[HIV-infection and psychiatric emergency. A clinical example]

The case illustrates the interaction between a hospitalized patient and staff members who are not well enough prepared to meet problems related to HIV-infection. A 41 year-old homosexual man with HIV-infection discovered in 1984 developed an acute psychosis in 1986. He was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward, where he triggered off a crisis reaction among staff members. They were afraid of being contaminated by a painful and mortal disease, and had obviously not worked through their feelings about sexuality and death. Their crisis made them unable to recognize the patient's emotional problems and therapeutic needs. The patient's situation deteriorated until staff members succeeded in clarifying their own reactions. Subsequently they were able to work out a better therapeutic approach in line with what they usually managed when treating psychotic patients.