Psychiatric Disorders and HIV Drug Risk Behaviors Among Individuals Under Community Correctional Supervision.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is nearly three times higher in the incarcerated population than in the general population in the United States, and over half of the incarcerated population has a psychiatric diagnosis. Individuals under community corrections supervision continue to receive limited attention regarding HIV prevention and surveillance. Anxiety-related, depressive-related, and post-traumatic stress disorders are high in the community corrections population and may be potential correlates of HIV risk behaviors. Examining the link between psychiatric diagnosis and HIV risk behavior within the community correctional setting may shed light on who is at greatest risk for HIV. Individuals within community corrections who participated in a clinical trial completed questionnaires and semistructured interviews to screen for psychiatric disorders and HIV risk behaviors. Multivariate analyses revealed that individuals of younger age, of White race, and with anxiety disorders engaged in greater HIV drug risk behaviors, providing preliminary implications for whom testing and prevention efforts should be emphasized.