I write this review sixteen years after the publication of this book – a lifetime for rapidly advancing scientific insights. Nonetheless, this book represents an early attempt to understand how to deal with the relationship of HIV infection and severe mental illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depressive disorder). This problem was noted early in HIV’s emergence and began to be systemically addressed more in the 1990s. HIV infection rates at the time of publication (2007) in those with severe mental illness were about ten times (or more) than the general population. This poses a tremendous, tragic challenge.
As discussed in these scientific articles, these higher rates are likely due to increased risk-taking among those with mental illness (e.g., drug use, unsafe sex), the instability of homelessness, a lack of sexual education, and the trade of sex for goods (e.g., money, shelter, food). Since both HIV and severe mental illness are huge, complex issues, this combination requires an in-depth, multi-discipline analysis, such as this book. Multiple perspectives are provided (psychiatry, psychology, nursing, and social work), but the general focus is more social than biological.
These essays reside in the American context and touch on about every related topic – ranging from race, gender, prevention, homelessness, education, co-infection, and substance abuse. The audience for these are in the scientifically literate community, like social workers, physicians, and nurses. Some statistical terms are used, but the articles generally focus on the application of knowledge more than abstract theory. I cannot help but wonder what has happened in the nearing two decades from publication and what new things we have learned to mitigate this serious problem.
HIV: Issues with Mental Health and Illness
Edited by Michael B. Blank & Marlene M. Eisenberg
Copyright (c) 2007
Routledge
ISBN13 9780789034106
Page Count: 161
Genre: HIV/AIDS, Psychology
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