Neuropsychological evaluation of the HIV patient.

The design of a neuropsychological evaluation of the HIV patient must follow the standard procedures used in any clinical condition. A wide range of cognitive functions should be evaluated to develop a pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Specific attention should be devoted to areas that have been reported to be affected in HIV. However, because concomitant opportunistic infections of the central nervous system are common, evaluation cannot be limited to only these areas. Finally, the special challenge of evaluating people for whom the normative base is limited, including groups such as minorities and drug users, must be kept in mind.