Antisocial personality disorder and HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHOD: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: Antisocial personality is a risk factor for HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers.