Mental illness increases HIV/AIDS tests - Term Paper Example

The research examined whether mental illnesses affects the proportion of HIV/AIDS tests. This study was a behavioral study on how people associate HIV/AIDS with the mentally ill (Yehia 2014). Participants will have to be mentally ill and those who are not mentally ill.HIV/AIDS epidemic is responsible for more than 25 million people (Fernandez 2006). It is not only detrimental to health but impairs economic and social development, causes food insecurity, infectious diseases among others. Individuals suffering from mental illness are likely to have received more HIV/AIDS tests than their counterparts are (Yehia 2014). A research team at Penn Medicine and the CDC published a report on this scenario in the AIDS Patient care and STDs (Yehia 2014). The study revealed that those who suffered the most were those with serious conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar (Yehia 2014). The study revealed that people who suffered from mental disorders or who provide them with due care recognize the importance of testing the patients (Yehia 2014). This is because they are at a greater risk (Yehia 2014). However, the results are complacent because they are largely due to individual participants’ vigilance (Yehia 2014). The fact is that there are more and formal screening endeavors and prevention measures targeted at this risk population (Yehia 2014). It is more likely for a mentally ill individual to participate in activities that are risky to their health (Yehia 2014). It is prudent for mental health care staff to routinely give mental health patients HIV/AIDS/AIDS testing in more frequent routines (Yehia 2014). Introduction This article is a research paper analyzing HIV Testing among Adults with Mental Illness in the United States. This article will also analyze a research article, which received publication in the AIDS Patient Care and STDs journal in December 2014 (Yehia 2014). This research examines the possibility of mental illnesses increasing HIV/AIDS tests by humans (Yehia 2014). The results will be unbiased in regards to age and gender comparison (Yehia 2014). This research aims to give statistics on the possibility of increased HIV test with regard to quantity and time spent suffering from mental illness (Yehia 2014). This research will help doctors dealing with mental illnesses and show people dangers associated with mental illnesses (Fernandez 2006). HIV/AIDS has resulted in uncountable deaths and disability particularly in middle and low-income countries (Fernandez 2006). AIDS estimated in previous years indicated that approximately thirty-three people had the HIV infection; HIV/AIDS and mental health are interlinked quite closely (Fernandez 2006). Mental health issues such as disorders of substance-use are connected with an increase in risk of HIV infection and AIDS, which interfere with their treatment, and contrarily some mental disorders occur directly due to HIV infection (Fernandez 2006). Studies have indicated a high seroprevalence of HIV infection among people who suffer from serious chronic mental illnesses (Fernandez 2006). The prevalence rates among mentally ill patients both outpatients and inpatients according to reports lies between five percent and twenty three percent as compared to the general population who have an approximation of 0.3% to 0.4% in United States of America (Fernandez 2006). Studies indicate behavioral risk factors as the reason for 30% to 60% of people suffering from mental illnesses acquiring HIV infection (Fernandez 2006). A recent study at the Duke hospital indicated 1.2% of the psychiatric patients had HIV infection (Fernandez 2006). This is distressing because in comparison to the genera adult population that rate is four times more (Fernandez 2006). The study also indicated that among the psychiatric population the HIV infection was more among people with abuse disorders (5%), personality disorders (3.1%), bipolar disorders (2.6%), and PTSD (2.1%) (Fernandez 2006). The rates are explainable by looking at the impact of mental disorders on people’s behavior (Fernandez 2006). This article is designed to assess the hypothesis that mental illnesses increase HIV/AIDS infection and testing among individuals. Method The study incorporated data from national representatives who included 21785 adults’ respondents (Yehia 2014). The respondents came from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which provided an update, on earlier research, which used the 1999 and 2002 NHIS data (Yehia 2014). The 2007 version served as the most recent cycle that had information on both HIV/AIDS testing and mental health diagnoses (Yehia 2014). In my opinion, most of this research material was from committed doctors and patients. Mental clinics received direct contacting while general clinics received emails as a mode of communication. Mental clinics took first priority. This is because most of their patients have mental issues and require advice. Pharmaceutical institutions offered information on the behaviors of their patients. This enhanced the process of data collection. The information obtained built a database to show mentally infected persons according to geography distribution. This aided in calculating a suitable sample size to reduce occurrence of an error. Television and newspaper advertising helped attract potential participants from the selected areas. Obtaining specific drugs used in treatment helped in ranking medication according to effectiveness. This helped in showing the existence of Patterns of mental illness to HIV/AIDS/AIDS. The collected data was in relation to age, gender, and race, and ethnicity, type of mental illness and infection stage of the individual. This research used quasi-experimental design. The focused research participants enabled accurate data.  Data collection was through interviews and questionnaires. Part of the participants may have received biasness due to lack of treatment or means to acquire it. Successful cases of treatment will add to data but not affect the initial diagnosis of HIV/AIDS/AIDS alongside mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Discussion The research observed that around 15% of the participants had a psychiatric disorder (Yehia 2014). In this group about eighty-nine percent exhibited signs of anxiety or depression, 2.6 percent had a schizophrenia disorder while 8.5% suffered from bipolar disorder (Yehia 2014). In the group, which contained people, suffering from one mental issue about 48.5% had received a HIV/AIDS test (Yehia 2014). This is in comparison to a lower rate of 35% (Yehia 2014) of individuals who did not suffer from the illness. The study revealed that 64% of people with schizophrenia, 63% with bipolar disorder (Yehia 2014) as well as 47% of individuals with anxiety or depression have gotten a HIV/AIDS test (Yehia 2014). HIV/AIDS infections and mental illnesses co-occur quite often (Yehia 2014). The research put this number at half percent of mentally ill patients live with HIV/AIDS/AIDS also (Yehia 2014). In addition, about five to twenty-three percent have HIV/AIDS (Yehia 2014). In addition, the study revealed that individuals aged twenty-five to forty four, ethnic and racial minorities had more HIV/AIDS tests (Yehia 2014). It was also clear that separated, divorced or widowed victims also had more HIV/AIDS tests than their counterparts did (Yehia 2014). Individuals taking tobacco and alcohol excessively also fell in this group whose HIV/AIDS risk factors received checks quite frequently (Yehia 2014). The research indicated that individuals suffering from mental illnesses were more probable to participate in risky behaviors that could them to get/AIDS transmission (Yehia 2014). These include sexual intercourse with multiple partners, unprotected sex, sharing injections during drug abuse (Yehia 2014). The test was consistent with previous studies that showed higher rates of mentally ill patients getting tested (Yehia 2014). However, large numbers of people remain untested. The report recommended that people aged thirteen to sixty four to undergo a HIV/AIDS test (Yehia 2014). It necessitated the need for people who were not tested to do so. It also advocated for an increase in public health care prevention endeavors (Yehia 2014). It also listed people at high risks of obtaining the virus as sex workers, injecting drug takers alongside their intimate partners, men who slept with other men, and heterosexuals who had many sexual partners (Yehia 2014). The research advised for an annually testing for this people (Yehia 2014). Future directions In my opinion, the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in mentally ill individuals faces some barriers. The patients may not reveal their psychological state to their health care providers due to fear of further stigmatization. In addition, the health care providers may not have the skills required in detection of psychological symptoms. In some cases, the doctors or nurses may detect the symptoms but may fail to take necessary action, which includes management, further assessment and referral. Ready and effective treatment and preventive measures for those who participate in drug intake through injections can help reduce HIV infection among the mentally ill if they reach them. In my opinion, an integration of HIV/AIDS programs and initiatives into mental health in countries presents a chance to improve the healthcare of individuals suffering from HIV/aids. Previously WHO has created a series of training material and modules for integration of interventions of mental healthcare into antiretroviral therapy sessions. It is prudent that HIV/AIDS programs include an assessment of mental illness to provide appropriate management. Primarily the health care providers and HIV counselors can receive training to treat and recognize common mental illnesses and refer them appropriately to specialized care if need be. For this to happen proper training plus support to the doctors and nurses should be a priority as well as an efficient referral system to in the healthcare infrastructure. The services for mental health have to collaborate closely with HIV/AIDS services at all levels to provide a coordinated action that involves relevant community-based resources. In my opinion, relevant normative guidance, continuous advocacy and a monitoring of the true coverage levels of interventions for mental health plus HIV/AIDS and substance use disorders is highly required, in addition, an implementation and formulation of effective programs, strategies and policies require supportive environments to endure adequate coverage. Research should also be undertaken to help in identifying the relationship between mental health and HIV/AIDS in areas with high affection rates. More research should examine the delivery of services, service provision through cost-effective models and the effect of interventions for mental disorders and the outcomes of HIV/AIDS disease. References Fernandez, F., Ruiz, P., & Ovid Technologies, Inc. (2006). Psychiatric aspects of HIV/AIDS. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Yehia Baligh R., Cui Wanjun, Thompson William W., Zack Matthew M., Mcknight-Eily Lela, Dinenno Elizabeth, Rose Charles E., and Blank Michael B.( 2014) HIV Testing Among Adults with Mental Illness in the United States. AIDS Patient Care and STDs. Vol. 28, No. 12: 628-634 Read More