Adolescents with psychiatric disorders and the risk of HIV

Objective: To review literature relevant to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated risk behaviors among adolescents with psychiatric disorders and psychological influences on risk behaviors. Method: This report is based on review of 66 articles, which comprise all of the relevant literature in the English language. Results: Although the seroprevalence of HIV in adolescents with psychiatric disorders is unknown, studies indicate that adolescents with psychiatric disorders are at greater risk than their peers because of increased rates of unsafe sexual practices, impulsivity, self-destructive attitudes, cognitive immaturity, high rates of substance use, self-cutting behavior, and the sequelae of sexual abuse. Conclusion: Directions are proposed for the design of developmentally appropriate, clinically oriented HIV prevention interventions based on the relationships between psychological dysfunction, social stressors, and HIV risk behaviors.