Psychiatric treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS: an HIV-psychiatry consensus survey of current practices.

BACKGROUND: Only sparse evidence from controlled clinical trials is available to guide the psychiatric treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS. OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed and determined current treatment trends in AIDS psychiatry. METHOD: Members of the Organization of AIDS Psychiatry (OAP) participated in a web-based survey. RESULTS: Of 159 members, 62 (39%) responded to the survey. Consensus emerged regarding first-line treatment for depression (escitalopram/citalopram), for psychosis and secondary mania (quetiapine), and for anxiety (clonazepam). CONCLUSION: Consensus statements can serve as a preliminary step toward providing some standardization of care for persons with HIV/AIDS.