The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.36.2.173

As more individuals whose lives are affected by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) begin to need psychiatric hospitalization, psychiatric staffs must be prepared to handle the strong feelings aroused by the disease. The authors present case vignettes of four patients with AIDS-related problems admitted to a voluntary acute-stay ward of a teaching hospital. They then discuss the largely indifferent reaction of the other ward patients to the AIDS-related patients, the tense and fearful reaction of the staff, and the subsequent interruption of the usual functioning of the therapeutic milieu. To develop an optimal management plan, the authors recommend attention to specific principles of patient and milieu assessment.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.