Antisocial personality disorder and HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers

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Abstract
Antisocial personality disorder in drug abusers has been associated with poor treatment outcome. The authors examined the relationship between diagnosis of antisocial personality and HIV infection. Subjects were 272 intravenous drug abusers, 140 (52%) of whom were in methadone treatment. Subjects were given an HIV risk behavior interview before diagnostic interviewing and HIV testing. Using the DSM-III-R definition, the authors found that 119 (44%) of the subjects met criteria for antisocial personality. Significantly more of the subjects with antisocial personality (18% [N = 21] than of the subjects without antisocial personality (8% [N = 12]) had HIV infection. The diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder was associated with a significantly higher odds ratio of infection independent of ethnicity, gender, and treatment status. Antisocial personality is a risk factor for HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers.