[HIV infection and psychiatric symptoms: a common and important combination]

About 50% of HIV patients have one or more mental disorders such as depression, addiction, anxiety disorders or personality disorders. Two patients, a 58-year-old male and a 38-year-old female, suffered from HIV infection with comorbid mental disorders. The mental disorders interfered with the treatment and outcome of their HIV infection. The first patient attempted suicide and was diagnosed with severe depression. He had stopped taking his antiretroviral combination therapy and had occasionally had unsafe sex. The woman suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse and depression. She took her antiretroviral combination therapy irregularly. Both patients received psychiatric treatment. Subsequently, medication adherence improved and the male patient no longer had unsafe sexual contacts. For optimal treatment of HIV infection it is important that comorbid mental disorders are recognized, diagnosed and treated.