Medical management of AIDS patients. Psychiatric disturbances

Despite the complexity and magnitude of the psychiatric disturbances associated with HIV illness, a good deal is understood about their clinical presentation. Techniques for psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic management have been well established and are readily available. The expertise developed for management of psychiatric disturbances in other medical illnesses applies quite well to HIV-related conditions. Although the HIV epidemic challenges us with new difficulties, our experience with other illnesses provides us with a basis to respond.