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Past abuse related to poor mental health in HIV-positive women

Women with HIV who are young, in poor physical health, in conflict with others, and who have been physically abused by a partner in the past are at greater risk for developing mental health and drug abuse problems, according to a new study. The study of HIV-infected women published in the May-June issue of Women’s Health Issues found that women who reported past physical abuse were 2.1 times more likely to have a probable psychiatric disorder than women without a history of past abuse, according to Cathy Sherbourne, Ph.D., of RAND, and colleagues.