Evaluation and treatment of mental disorders in patients with AIDS. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Evaluation and treatment of mental disorders in patients with AIDS.

Compr Ther. 1990 Aug;16(8):34-41. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/91055466
Snyder S; Strain JJ; Fulop G; Division of Behavioral Medicine and Consultation Psychiatry,; Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.

Abstract: Mental symptoms are common in patients with AIDS. Optimal management involves the identification and treatment of underlying mental disorders rather than symptomatic treatment alone. Organic mental disorders are very frequent in AIDS, particularly with seriously ill patients who are medical inpatients. There is a high priori probability that such common symptoms as agitation, irritability, and insomnia will be caused by an organic mental disorder. Psychopharmacology in the patient with AIDS requires considerable caution. Lower doses and careful surveillance for subtle neuropsychiatric side effects are necessary. Routine medical contact with a compassionate physician may be of inestimable value to the patient in coping with the fear and dread that surround the illness.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS Adult AIDS Dementia Complex/DIAGNOSIS/THERAPY Case Report Delirium/DIAGNOSIS/THERAPY Depressive Disorder/DIAGNOSIS/THERAPY Female Human Male Middle Age Organic Mental Disorders/DIAGNOSIS/*ETIOLOGY/THERAPY JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDcomplicationsadultaidsdementiacomplex/diagnosis/therapycasereportdelirium/diagnosis/therapydepressivedisorder/diagnosis/therapyfemalehumanmalemiddleageorganicmentaldisorders/diagnosis/KWDetiology/therapyjournalarticle
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Copyright © 1991 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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