The Use of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for those with Mental Disorders: An Ethics Case Study - Abstract
A hypothetical case study about a patient with schizoaffective disorder and a history of drug abuse is presented to expose interdisciplinary, healthcare experts to some of the pragmatic and ethical issues surrounding the study and use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), particularly for at risk populations who have been diagnosed with complex mental disorders, including drug addictions. Controversial PrEP clinical trials have been conducted in recent years, but when the target population includes persons with severe mental illness (SMI), the controversial issues surrounding these trials is heightened.