Suicide, euthanasia and AIDS: Research findings and issues

Résumé

This article critically reviews research on suicide, AIDS and HIV seropositivity. Studies indicate up to 36 times greater risk of suicide in men with a diagnosis of AIDS or HIV seropositivity than men without the diagnosis. However few studies controlled for independent risk factors such as pre-morbid or co-morbid psychiatric syndromes, control groups may not be appropriate, there are little data on women, and explanations of suicidal dynamics are mostly speculative. Based upon research on the desire for euthanasia and assisted suicide with other illnesses, the author suggests alternative hypotheses concerning suicidality, the desire for euthanasia and AIDS which warrant further investigation. SIDA EUTHANASIE PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE MALADIE-TERMINALE SUICIDE-ASSISTÉ