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Youths and HIV/AIDS: Psychiatry's Role in a Changing Epidemic

NCJ Number
210943
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 44 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2005 Pages: 728-747
Author(s)
Geri R. Donenberg Ph.D.; Maryland Pao M.D.
Date Published
August 2005
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This literature review focuses on English-language publications in the past 10 years that address child and adolescent risk factors linked to the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), as well as its prevention and treatment.
Abstract
The youth most affected by HIV are those born with the infection, those who acquire HIV through risky sexual behavior and drug use, and those whose parents or family members are infected. There has been a significant decrease in the number of new cases of vertically transmitted HIV in the United States during the past 10 years; however, children infected at birth or through blood transfusions are surviving into adolescence and becoming sexually active, thus posing a risk to their sexual partners. These youth have significant psychiatric issues due to having a chronic medical illness. In addition to presenting a social-personal framework to explain HIV risk behavior among teens, this review discusses the epidemiology, biology, and neurocognitive development of HIV/AIDS. Also addressed are current definitions and approaches to disease diagnosis and neurocognitive and psychiatric problems associated with HIV. Key issues facing youth affected by HIV/AIDS in a family member are identified; and current treatment methods for infected youth are described, along with promising HIV prevention and intervention programs. The primary conclusion of this literature review is that mental health professionals, because of their access to families and youth, are uniquely positioned to reduce HIV transmission by using therapeutic strategies to teach important HIV prevention skills. 2 figures and 208 references