Suicidal behaviour in HIV infection: a case-control study of deliberate self-harm in people with HIV infection

A group of 22 individuals with HIV infection who had made acts of self-harm were compared with a sex and age-matched control group of individuals without known HIV infection who had also being involved in acts of deliberate self-harm (DSH). Compared with all DSH individuals referred to the deliberate self-harm service during the same period. men were over-represented amongst HIV subjects. Compared with matched controls, HIV subjects were more likely to include gay/bisexual men, and not be employed. Individuals with HIV infection were more likely to be receiving outpatient psychiatric care at the time of DSH. and to have received it in the past A diagnosis of depression was given mom frequently to HIV subjects, while alcohol misuses was more often diagnosed in controls. Concerns about their physical health were prominent amongst HIV seropositives. Psychiatric follow-up was offered to HIV subjects more often than to controls. The results indicate that HIV disease is a potential contributing factor to deliberate self-harm. and highlight the need for efforts to identify individuals with HIV infection at risk of deliberate self-harm, ant to develop effective interventions to prevent suicidal behaviour in this group of individuals.