To assess the frequency of HIV testing and the incidence of HIV
infection among patients with new-onset psychosis, the records of 811
patients referred to a military hospital for acute psychosis during a
two-year period were reviewed. Records of 518 patients were excluded
because they had known chronic psychotic illnesses, repeat admissions for
recurrent affective disorders with psychotic features, delirium, dementia,
or pre-existing HIV infection. Of the 293 patients with new- onset
psychotic illness, 84 percent (N = 246) were tested for HIV antibodies.
None were seropositive for HIV. Although patients with new- onset psychosis
were commonly assessed for HIV infection to clarify their diagnosis, HIV
infection was not associated with new-onset psychosis.
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