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Homeless Persons (homeless + person)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	85%

Selected Abstracts

Factors associated with violent victimisation among homeless adults in Sydney, Australia

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009
Sarah Larney
Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and correlates of violent victimisation among homeless people in inner-Sydney. Method: Cross-sectional design. Clients of a shelter for homeless, substance-using adults were interviewed about their drug use, mental health and violent victimisation in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with victimisation. Results: Participants reported complex drug use histories and high levels of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Forty-eight per cent of participants reported past year victimisation. In univariate analyses, being female, schizophrenia/psychotic disorder, PTSD, depression and regular use of psychostimulants were associated with increased risk of victimisation. In multivariate analyses, regular use of psychostimulants (odds ratio [95% CI] 5.07 [1.53-16.84]), schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder (3.13 [1.24-7.9], and depression (2.65 [1.07-6.59]) were associated with increased risk of victimisation. Conclusions and implications: This sample of homeless, substance-using adults experienced high levels of violence. People with poor mental health and regular psychostimulant users were at greater risk of victimisation. A longitudinal study to determine whether victimisation prolongs homelessness is warranted. Clinical staff working with homeless populations need to be aware of the likelihood of past and future victimisation and its effects on mental health. Homeless persons may benefit from learning to identify risk situations for victimisation and how to de-escalate potentially violent situations. [source]

Schizophrenia in homeless persons: a systematic review of the literature

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2002
D. Folsom
Objective:,This article systematically reviews studies of prevalence of schizophrenia in homeless persons. Method:,Medline and PsychInfo were searched using the key words: homeless person, mental illness, psychosis, and schizophrenia. The bibliographies of identified articles were also reviewed. Results:,Study designs varied considerably. The rate of schizophrenia in homeless persons reported in the 33 published reports, representing eight different countries, ranged from 2 to 45%. In the 10 methodologically superior studies, the prevalence range was 4,16% and the weighted average prevalence was 11%. In addition, rates were higher in younger persons, women and the chronically homeless. Slightly less than half of the homeless persons with schizophrenia were not currently receiving treatment. Conclusion:,Schizophrenia is much more prevalent among homeless persons than in the population at large. Future research should focus on better ways of meeting the mental health care needs of homeless people with schizophrenia. [source]

Factors predicting arrest for homeless persons receiving integrated residential treatment for co-occurring disorders

CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 5 2009
Blake Barrett
Background,Homeless individuals are at increased risk for health and criminal justice problems. Aims,The aim of this study was to examine risk factors affecting arrest rates in a cohort of homeless people with co-occurring psychiatric and substance-abuse disorders. Methods,Baseline data were collected from 96 homeless individuals residing in a residential treatment facility for people with co-occurring disorders. Arrest data were obtained for 2 years following treatment intake. Regression analyses were employed to examine interactions between study variables. Results,One third of the sample was arrested during the 2-year follow-up period, principally for drug offences. People referred to treatment directly from the criminal justice system were four times more likely to re-offend than those referred from other sources. Participants' perceived need for mental-health services reduced risk of arrest while their perception of medical needs increased this risk. Conclusions,The relationship between referral from a criminal justice source and re-arrest after admission to the treatment facility is unsurprising, and consistent with previous literature, but the suggestion of an independently increased risk in the presence of perceived physical health-care needs is worthy of further study. The lower risk of arrest for people who perceive that they have psychological needs is encouraging. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Schizophrenia in homeless persons: a systematic review of the literature

The Supervised Methadone and Resettlement Team nurse: an effective approach with opiate-dependent, homeless people

INTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 2 2001
W. Mistral BSC.
Abstract Homelessness and substance misuse have risen dramatically over the past 30 years in the UK. The role of the primary care nurse has been signalled as important in working with people who have drug and alcohol problems, and for improving the general health of homeless people. This article focuses on the role of the primary care nurse in a Supervised Methadone and Resettlement Team (SMART). The team works in central Bristol, in southwest England, with people who are homeless and using illegal opiates. The aim of this report is to provide descriptive information that demonstrates the value of the primary care nurse, working in a multiagency partnership, in dealing with the problems of this homeless population, many of whom have problems associated with illicit drug use. Client outcomes from a small sample of homeless persons are also described. [source]

Clinical Responsibility and Client Autonomy: Dilemmas in Mental Health Work at the Margins

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 4 2001
Michael Rowe Ph.D.
Mental health outreach to homeless persons requires practice standards for cases in which clinical assessment and client autonomy conflict. After reviewing the principles of mental health outreach and presenting case examples, conditions and boundaries within which outreach workers negotiate the clinical responsibility/client autonomy dilemma are discussed. Guidelines to support sound clinical practice while respecting client autonomy are also discussed. [source]