People with serious mental illness (SMI) have been shown to be at elevated risk for HIV infection, yet little is known about SMI HIV-positive persons, and virtually nothing about the HIV care they are (or are not) receiving. The broad goal of this 4-year study is to provide an understanding of this population and how the current system of care is responding to their needs so that care may be improved. What is known about this population and the overcrowded, underfunded systems charged with their care suggests that SMI persons are likely to be diagnosed at later stages of HIV infection, and have more precipitous illness courses and shorter survival times. This study will make use of data and methodology from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS), a large longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of 3300 persons who are HIV-positive and are known to HIV providers. A random sample of 700 SMI HIV-positive adults in 8 U.S. sites will be studied and compared to non-SMI HIV-positive participants in HCSUS.
The specific aims are: to describe the demographics, clinical and general health characteristics of this sample of 700 SMI HIV-positive adults; to determine their patterns of utilization and costs in order to evaluate access to care and quality of care; to compare their stage of HIV disease at entry into care and 18-month survival rates with non-SMI HIV-positive persons; and to assess organizational, financial and policy-related barriers to their receiving appropriate care.
These aims will be achieved by collecting and analyzing both quantitative data (face-to-face interviews) to assess demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, HIV status, access to and utilization of services, health-related quality of life, satisfaction with HIV services, and HIV knowledge and risk behaviors; medical and billing record abstractions; and 18-month survival information and qualitative data (case studies, focus groups, and participant-observation) in all 8 sites.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH055936-04
Application #
2890819
Study Section
Psychobiological, Biological, and Neurosciences Subcommittee (MHAI)
Program Officer
Stoff, David M
Project Start
1996-09-30
Project End
2003-09-30
Budget Start
1999-05-01
Budget End
2003-09-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rand Corporation
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Santa Monica
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90401
Fremont, Allen M; Young, Alexander S; Chinman, Matthew et al. (2007) Differences in HIV care between patients with and without severe mental illness. Psychiatr Serv 58:681-8
Bogart, Laura M; Fremont, Allen M; Young, Alexander S et al. (2006) Patterns of HIV care for patients with serious mental illness. AIDS Patient Care STDS 20:175-82
Young, Alexander S; Sullivan, Greer; Bogart, Laura M et al. (2005) Needs for services reported by adults with severe mental illness and HIV. Psychiatr Serv 56:99-101
Wagner, G J; Kanouse, D E; Koegel, P et al. (2004) Correlates of HIV antiretroviral adherence in persons with serious mental illness. AIDS Care 16:501-6
Wagner, Glenn J; Kanouse, David E; Koegel, Paul et al. (2003) Adherence to HIV antiretrovirals among persons with serious mental illness. AIDS Patient Care STDS 17:179-86
Tucker, Joan S; Kanouse, David E; Miu, Angela et al. (2003) HIV risk behaviors and their correlates among HIV-positive adults with serious mental illness. AIDS Behav 7:29-40
Sullivan, G; Koegel, P; Kanouse, D E et al. (1999) HIV and people with serious mental illness: the public sector's role in reducing HIV risk and improving care. Psychiatr Serv 50:648-52