title: Mental health problems of the Edinburgh 'roofless'.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The roofless have not been previously surveyed in detail looking specifically at their psychiatric status.
  
  
  METHODS
  All roofless people in a discrete area were interviewed in their 'skippers' using a semi-structured interview. Other roofless people helped in case finding and diagnostic validity was confirmed using a computerised case register.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five people were interviewed. High rates of substance abuse (n = 48, 75%), and very low rates of psychotic illness (n = 2, 3%) were found. High rates of serious physical morbidity, of imprisonment and of being the victim of a crime were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The roofless have multiple severe medical, social, and psychiatric problems. These all must be addressed when considering the provision of services.
authors: Homeless Persons Psychiatric Service, Royal Park Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Newton
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Geddes
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bailey
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Freeman
authors: A
authors: A
authors: McAleavy
authors: G C
authors: GC
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology