The sessions on HIV/AIDS at this year’s annual meeting will feature an array of experts who will describe practical diagnostic and treatment strategies and provide useful skill-building information on HIV-related mental illness.
Psychiatrists and mental health professionals are seeing an alarming number of patients infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. In the United States alone, an estimated 850,000 to 950,000 people are living with HIV. Francine Cournos, M.D., chair of the APA Committee on AIDS, states, “Due to the current epidemiology of HIV and AIDS, it is much more likely today that a psychiatrist will see either a patient who is HIV-positive or is at risk for acquiring the infection.”
The APA Office of HIV Psychiatry and the Committee on AIDS continue to offer several programs to address the mental health and well-being of HIV-infected patients at APA’s annual meeting. Geared to psychiatrists with varying levels of knowledge and treatment expertise, this year’s programs in New York City will provide updated information on HIV-related complications and treatments.
Sunday, May 2, noon to 4 p.m.
Residents Program: Mission Cognition: Assessing and Treating Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in HIV: This workshop, by APA’s Committee on AIDS, will provide practical information including “10 Things You Need to Know about HIV Psychiatry” and an overview of the neuropsychiatric and psychiatric syndromes of HIV/AIDS. Skill-building exercises and case discussions will be incorporated into the program. Residents interested in participating must reply by April 16 by calling (703) 907-8641.
Tuesday, May 4, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
What Every Psychiatrist Needs to Know About HIV/AIDS: This symposium is the first of two designed to provide a full clinical update for psychiatrists. “Ten Things You Need to Know About Brain Dysfunction” will be presented, along with “Five Things You Need to Know: Drug-Drug Interactions.” Each presentation will offer the most up-to-date, practical strategies for effectively working with HIV-infected patients. A question-and-answer period will provide time for participants to address individual clinical concerns.
Wednesday, May 5, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
What You Need to Know About Treatment of HIV-Related Disorders: This symposium (the conclusionof the above session) will focus on successfully treating HIV-related disorders. Experts will provide essential clinical information on pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment approaches for mood, anxiety, psychotic, sleep, and pain disorders. Each session will highlight a clinical vignette. A question-and-answer period will provide a forum for participants to address clinical cases. ▪
