The virus has a grave influence on People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)’s psychological well-being (references); most of all, their PTSD is allegedly the pressing issue of PLWHA (CITE). According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), PTSD is inserted in Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders. The PTSD diagnosis classification requires exposure to a traumatic or stressful event such as violent or accidental death/threatened death, actual/threatened serious injury, or sexual violence (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In this vein, PLWHA are relatively more at risk of being victims of violent crimes, such as abuse and assault, than seronegative individuals[ Tookindividuals [Took out this reference since you already mention it at the beginning of the sentence.] (Leserman et al., 2005). The rate of PTSD among PLWH range is extremely higher (from 35% to 64%), compared to the general American population (4.3 % of women and 1.7 % of men) (Post-traumatic, Symptoms, & People, 2017- Carmen P. McLean1 and Hayley Fitzgerald1). What makes situations worse is that those who have PTSD isare less inclined to adhere to HIV treatment (Boarts et al., 2006; Whentten et al., 2008—in Letitia, 2018). Considering the circumstances mentioned above, PLWHA can be addressed as a group facing a vulnerability when it comes to their mental health status.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility that a subgroup of PLWHA is facing the most severe degree of crisis; a plethora of research indicates the vulnerability of Bisexualbisexual people's serious status when it comes to PTSD. Bisexual people confront dire conditions of liveslife such as violence, rape, and sexual assault; 61% of bisexual women and 37% of bisexual men reported experiencing rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime (CDC report, 2013).