Attitudes toward Suicide in Patients with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

This study investigated the attitudes toward suicide of HIV positive patients, a population at substantial risk for suicide. Such attitudes have not been studied, and it is quite possible that the depression and stress associated with HIV may be mediated by such attitudes. The Suicide Opinion Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hopelessness Scale, and a demographic questionnaire were administered to three male samples (n = 36 each). The first sample consisted of HIV positive gay men, with the diagnosis of AIDS or AIDS related complex (ARC). The second sample consisted of HIV negative gay men who had no symptoms for AIDS or ARC. The third sample consisted of thirty-six heterosexual males in good physical health with no evidence of AIDS, ARC, or other major medical conditions. The three samples were matched on age, ethnicity, education, and reported annual income. The three samples differed significantly on both depression and hopelessness, with HIV positive scoring highest, HIV negative scoring intermediate, and heterosexual scoring lowest. Depression correlated significantly with scores on the SOQ mental illness and cry for help scales for both HIV groups, but not for the heterosexual group. Hopelessness scores correlated significantly with the SOQ mental illness scale for the HIV negative and heterosexual groups, but not for the HIV positive group. Significant differences in attitude toward suicide between HIV positive and the other two samples were obtained on four of the SOQ scales. No significant differences were obtained between HIV negative and heterosexual respondents. These results suggest that as the HIV/AIDS entity progresses, attitudes toward suicide are altered in order to cope with the stress and to maintain cognitive balance.