Important note: Information in this article was accurate in July 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, July 3, 2000
Prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports
NewsRx -- A study published in the July issue of Psychiatric Services1 found that older persons with HIV/AIDS are more likely to experience depression and have thoughts of suicide than do younger persons living with the disease.
The study, funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, also found that many persons 45 years and older living with HIV/AIDS also received less social and emotional support in part because of continued stigma associated with the disease.
"HIV/AIDS is primarily a disease of the young and this has led the public to forget about this neglected population," said researcher Seth C. Kalichman of the Medical College of Wisconsin. "Because of advances in medications and new treatments, persons with HIV/AIDS are living longer, but their social networks have been devastated by the loss of many friends to the AIDS epidemic years ago."
Past research has shown that older adults living with HIV/AIDS have many comorbid conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and changes in memory. "As symptoms begin to manifest, distress and thoughts of suicide increase," said Timothy Heckman, the principal investigator of the study. "Add to this the more rapid deterioration of social and professional relations, and the occurrence of distress is almost inevitable."
"In the HIV community no one cares about aging, and in the aging community no one cares about HIV," Heckman added. "It's those attitudes that lead to isolation that can ultimately lead to depression and thoughts of suicide."
This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
Reference
1.Psychiatr Serv 2000 Jul;51(7):903-7.
000703
AW000703
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