The risk of mental health disorders among U.S. military personnel infected with human immunodeficiency virus, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2011.

Mental health disorders (MHD) are reportedly more common among soldiers and airmen with HIV than their seronegative counterparts. This report documents the incidence rates of MHD among HIV-positive members of all service branches and compares the rates to those of two HIV-unexposed control groups: an HSV2-infected group and a group without documented HIV or HSV2 infections. Approximately 56 percent of HIV-infected service members received an incident diagnosis of a MHD six months or more after the initial detection of their infections. Cumulative incidence rates in nearly all MHD categories of interest were highest in the HIV group, intermediate in the HSV2 group and lowest in the referent group. The disorders more frequently diagnosed among HIV-infected service members compared to their uninfected counterparts were psychosis/schizophrenia, substance dependence, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, suicide ideation and depression. The findings are consistent with previous studies and reiterate the importance of long-term and comprehensive clinical monitoring of individuals diagnosed with HIV-1 infections.