Immune-compromised patients: HIV and organ transplantation

Abstract

The consultation-liaison psychiatrist has no greater opportunity and obligation to contribute to patient care, practitioner training and research than in advancing the work with immune-compromised patients. This area of health care has grown enormously in the past quarter century with the global emergence of the AIDS epidemic. New case numbers continue to rise in the established geography of the disease and AIDS continues to enter areas heretofore untouched by the condition. Current projections suggest that by the year 2030, AIDS will take more lives than were lost in any of the other great plagues of humanity (Global AIDS Epidemic Report, UNAIDS 2006).