Acceptability and necessity of HIV and other blood-borne virus testing in a psychiatric setting

作者：Sanger Camilla; Hayward Janine; Patel Gira; Phekoo Karen; Poots Alan J; Howe Cathy; Bowden Jones Owen; Green John^*

来源：The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2013, 202(4): 307-308.

DOI：10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119529

Studies in North America and Europe indicate that the prevalence of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) is elevated in individuals with severe mental illness; there are no comparable data for the UK. We offered routine testing for HIV, and hepatitis B and C in an inner-London in-patient psychiatric unit as a service improvement. Of the patients approached 83% had mental capacity to provide informed consent for testing and 66% of patients offered testing accepted. Although it was not our objective to establish the prevalence of BBVs, 18% of patients had serological evidence of a current or previous BBV infection. We found that offering routine testing in an in-patient psychiatric setting is both practical and acceptable to patients.

• 出版日期2013-4