Management of Suicidal Patients with HIV Disease

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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Management of Suicidal Patients with HIV Disease

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (11/94- 12/94) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 19
Valente, Sharon M.; Saunders, Judith M.

There are higher numbers of suicidal acts among patients with HIV than among the general population. Stress related to HIV diagnosis, treatment, and medications can lead to depression-- which increases suicide risk. "A lot of AIDS patients don't want to hang around 'til the end--they don't see a cure on the horizon and have no hope for recovery...Quality of life becomes the issue. People define it themselves," said one AIDS patient. Depressed people require a high quality of care based on sound scientific knowledge of evaluation of suicide. Early detection and evaluation are critical for a depressed person. Safety precautions include hospitalization and removal of the method of suicide. A nurse's responsibility is to help patients consider options that improve the quality of life, reduce patients' distress and suffering, and help patients thoroughly consider alternatives to suicide.

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