Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Risk factors for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among persons with severe mental illness.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Essock, SM; Dowden, S; Constantine, NT; Katz, L; Swartz, MS; Meador, KG; Osher, FC; Rosenberg, SD ...
Published in: Psychiatr Serv
June 2003

OBJECTIVE: Previous reports have indicated that persons with severe mental illness have an elevated risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C compared with the general population. This study extends earlier findings by examining the factors that are most predictive of serologic status among persons with severe mental illness. METHOD: S: A total of 969 persons with severe mental illness from five sites in four states were approached to take part in an assessment involving testing for blood-borne infections and a one-time standardized interview containing questions about sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, risk behaviors for sexually transmitted diseases, history of sexually transmitted diseases, and health care. RESULTS: The greater the number of risk behaviors, the greater was the likelihood of infection, both for persons in more rural locations (New Hampshire and North Carolina), where the prevalence of infection was lower, and those in urban locations (Hartford, Connecticut; Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Baltimore, Maryland), where the prevalence was higher. Although no evidence was found that certain behaviors increase a person's risk of one blood-borne infection while other behaviors increase the risk of a different infection, it is conceivable that more powerful research designs would reveal some significant differences among the risks. CONCLUSION: S: Clinicians should be attentive to these risk factors so as to encourage appropriate testing, counseling, and treatment.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Psychiatr Serv

DOI

ISSN

1075-2730

Publication Date

June 2003

Volume

54

Issue

6

Start / End Page

836 / 841

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk-Taking
  • Risk Factors
  • Psychiatry
  • Mental Disorders
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis B
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Essock, S. M., Dowden, S., Constantine, N. T., Katz, L., Swartz, M. S., Meador, K. G., … Five-Site Health and Risk Study Research Committee, . (2003). Risk factors for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatr Serv, 54(6), 836–841. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.54.6.836
Essock, Susan M., Shauna Dowden, Niel T. Constantine, Len Katz, Marvin S. Swartz, Keith G. Meador, Fred C. Osher, Stanley D. Rosenberg, and Stanley D. Five-Site Health and Risk Study Research Committee. “Risk factors for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among persons with severe mental illness.Psychiatr Serv 54, no. 6 (June 2003): 836–41. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.54.6.836.
Essock SM, Dowden S, Constantine NT, Katz L, Swartz MS, Meador KG, et al. Risk factors for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatr Serv. 2003 Jun;54(6):836–41.
Essock, Susan M., et al. “Risk factors for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among persons with severe mental illness.Psychiatr Serv, vol. 54, no. 6, June 2003, pp. 836–41. Pubmed, doi:10.1176/appi.ps.54.6.836.
Essock SM, Dowden S, Constantine NT, Katz L, Swartz MS, Meador KG, Osher FC, Rosenberg SD, Five-Site Health and Risk Study Research Committee. Risk factors for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatr Serv. 2003 Jun;54(6):836–841.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychiatr Serv

DOI

ISSN

1075-2730

Publication Date

June 2003

Volume

54

Issue

6

Start / End Page

836 / 841

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Risk-Taking
  • Risk Factors
  • Psychiatry
  • Mental Disorders
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis B