Associations among Violence Exposure, Mental Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and HIV

Abstract

This study's primary aim was to provide co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (COD) prevalence data as well as additional epidemiologic data needed to more firmly establish violence exposure and COD as principally associated with HIV infection. Participants were clients assessed for alcohol and other drug treatment through the network of providers overseen by the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Cuyahoga County (Ohio) from December 12, 2001 through July 18, 2007. Study design was a matched comparison of two groups of equal number (N = 638): HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected clients. The prevalence of COD with HIV infection was determined to be 26.3%. Through logistic regression modeling, both violence exposure and COD were found to be associated with HIV infection.