Paragraph 5 Severe psychiatric conditions

(1)

A person (“P”) is to be treated as having a severe psychiatric condition if—

(a)

P has—

(i)

HIV, or

(ii)

an infection of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C (or both) of severity level 2, 3 or 4,

(b)

a consultant psychiatrist has—

(i)

diagnosed P with a condition described in sub-paragraph (2), and

(ii)

confirmed that P’s infection or any consequent interferon treatment is the cause, or a major cause, of the condition or of its course, and

(c)

as a result of the condition, P has received—

(i)

consultant-led secondary mental health treatment for a period of at least 6 months, or

(ii)

assessment or treatment as an inpatient (compulsorily or otherwise).

(2)

The descriptions of condition referred to in paragraph (1)(b)(i) are—

(a)

depressive disorders;

(b)

bipolar disorders;

(c)

generalised anxiety or panic disorders;

(d)

post-traumatic stress disorders;

(e)

adjustment disorders;

(f)

secondary psychotic disorders caused by—

(i)

HIV brain disease;

(ii)

HIV-related central nervous system opportunistic infection;

(iii)

neoplasia.