Psychopathology and emotional changes were examined over a 9-month period in this study of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in seronegative and seropositive intravenous drug users. The HIV-1-seropositive group showed more psychological difficulties and emotional distress at both testings. For the HIV-1-seronegative subjects, a trend for less psychopathology and psychological distress was found. At the second testing, the difference between groups was increased due to improvement of the HIV-1-seronegative group. A more chronic course of psychological distress was found in the HIV-1-seropositive group.