Centre for Policy on Ageing



General paralysis of the insane and aids in old age psychiatry — epidemiology, clinical diagnosis, serology and ethics - the way forward
Author(s)	Claire Hilton
Journal title	International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 13, no 12, December 1998
Pages	pp 875-885
Keywords	Confusion ; AIDS ; Psychiatric treatment ; Screening ; Social ethics ; Diagnosis.
Annotation	While the incidence of general paralysis of the insane (GPI) has declined, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) has emerged as a new illness. Today, in England and Wales, as many older people die from AIDS as from neurosyphilis, although both diagnoses are rare in this age group. Both are serious medical conditions with psychiatric manifestations. For both, serological tests may identify the disease, and treatment may be of benefit, but there is considerable social stigma attached to the diagnoses. Ethical guidelines for serological testing for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) have been available for more than a decade. In view of the similarities between the diseases, it may be unethical to test patients for syphilis routinely. Epidemiology, risk factors, neurological and neuropsychiatric features and ethics must be considered before testing for both syphilis and HIV. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990209014 A
Classmark	EDC: CQTT: LP: 3V: TQ: LK7
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.