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Psychopathology Subgroups and HIV Risk Among Women in Psychiatric Treatment
Robert C McMahon1, John M Abbamonte2, Jessy G Dévieux3
1Counseling Psychology Program, University of Miami, P.O. 248065, Coral Gables, FL, USA. r.mcmahon@miami.edu.
AIDS and Behavior
|January 26, 2017
Summary
Individuals with severe mental illness and personality disorders show higher HIV risk behaviors. Tailored interventions are needed to address their specific needs and reduce transmission among this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Individuals with mental illness exhibit higher HIV infection rates than the general population.
- Understanding psychopathology subtypes linked to HIV risk is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify subgroups of women with mental illness based on psychopathology severity.
- To examine differences in HIV risk variables among these subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Cluster analysis of personality disorder and clinical symptom data from 243 women in psychiatric treatment.
- Comparison of HIV risk variables across identified psychiatric severity subgroups.
Main Results:
- Three subgroups (high, medium, low psychiatric severity) were identified.
- The high psychopathology subgroup demonstrated greater AIDS anxiety, more sexual partners, increased sexual trading, lower self-efficacy in risk reduction, and poorer condom use skills.
Conclusions:
- Psychiatric severity levels correlate with distinct HIV risk profiles in women with mental illness.
- Findings support the development of tailored HIV prevention interventions based on psychopathology subtypes and severity.
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