Abstract
This is a small book, less than 100 pages, which gives a concise outline of the issues involved in the treatment of people with ‘triple disorder’, that is, people with HIV, substance use and psychiatric problems. The focus of the book is on the alcohol and drug wildcard and its interaction with psychiatric problems in people with HIV.
The book is divided into 4 chapters. The first two chapters deal with the assessment and diagnosis of substance use. In particular, the DSM-IV criteria for psychoactive substance use disorder, minor and major psychiatric disorders and HIV related cognitive impairment. The third chapter, the largest, deals with addiction treatment, and the last chapter provides three different models of care. In addition, at the end of the book there is a useful list of references and a list of available resources (USA only). I think this book is a useful introductory guide for clinicians new to this area, however, the experienced clinician will find the book too simplistic.