HIV and Community Mental Healthcare

The first book on the unique contributions to prevention and treatment that community mental healthcare workers may make to persons affected by HIV.

HIV/AIDS affects people psychologically like no other disease. HIV-infected persons can experience a wide range of psychological and neuropsychological problems that require mental health treatment. At times, their family, friends, and healthcare workers may need mental health services. People at risk of infection may also benefit from mental health intervention. In HIV and Community Mental Healthcare, Michael D. Knox and Caroline H. Sparks bring together a distinguished group of contributors in the first book on the unique contributions to prevention and treatment that community mental healthcare workers may make to persons affected by HIV.

The authors begin by discussing basic aspects of HIV disease with which mental health clinicians need to be familiar, such as epidemiology, law, ethics, detection, and transmission. They then address mental health interventions for stress, depression, and suicide. Special topics include women and HIV, multicultural issues, mental illness, and drug abuse. HIV and Community Mental Healthcare is an interdisciplinary handbook for practitioners as well as a course textbook for students. The book will be of interest to mental healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and counselors. It is intended to help this audience improve their ability to care for persons affected by HIV and AIDS.