Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, researchers have studied the paths of transmission of HIV. An emergent path highlighted by Brief et al. (2004) follows a conceptual model of HIV infection which operates as follows: Individuals exposed to trauma develop depression and/or anxiety or other related mental disorder(s); they use alcohol and/or drugs to self-medicate or cope with unpleasant thoughts or feelings related to the trauma, which in turn impairs their judgment, thus increasing their engagement in HIV risk behaviors, and increasing their risk of contracting HIV. While studies have established trauma exposure, mental disorder and SUD as independently associated with HIV infection, there is a paucity of research examining the impact of trauma exposure and co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (COD). Galvan, Burnam and Bing (2003) concluded that population-based estimates of COD among HIV-positive people are not available in the literature. Klinkenberg and Sacks (2004) concurred, “We still know relatively little about PLWH/A [people living with HIV and/or AIDS] with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Additional epidemiological study is needed in order to more fully describe
Author: R. Thomas Sherba
Institution: Case Western Reserve University
Language: English
Topic: HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1571547403