Rational Suicide and HIV Disease

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Rational Suicide and HIV Disease

Focus (07/93) Vol. 8, No. 8, P. 5 (Jones, James R. and Dilley, James W.)

Suicidal inclinations among AIDS patients are extremely common as the patients constantly reevaluate the quality of their lives. One recent study indicates that people infected with HIV may be up to 40 times more likely to consider suicide than members of the general population, although other surveys have reported levels of suicide risk among AIDS patients at similar levels as those for the general public. Experts say factors that may influence the suicide risk for HIV-infected people include the stage of the disease and characteristics of groups at high risk of contracting AIDS. In a survey conducted by the AIDS Health Project, 44 percent of the HIV-positive respondents showed no signs of depression, while 32 percent exhibited mild depression and 24 percent showed moderate depression. Eighteen percent said they knew someone "who planned and successfully completed a rational suicide," and 67 percent said they had considered committing rational suicide at some time after they learned they were HIV positive. Also, 64 percent of the respondents said they approved of rational suicide in some cases, while 33 percent said they were uncertain about it and 3 percent said they were opposed to it.

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