Psychopathology and coping in recently diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients--the role of gender.

Background: Although there is growing literature on the psychological responses to and the psychopathology associated with HIV/AIDS, few investigations have focused on the role of gender. This study compared psychiatric morbidity, coping responses, and disability in male and female outpatients recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Method: One hundred and forty-nine patients (44 male, 105 female) with HIV/AIDS (mean +/- standard deviation (SD) months since diagnosis 5.