Mental health problems of the Edinburgh 'roofless'.
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.
Newton
J R
JR
Homeless Persons Psychiatric Service, Royal Park Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Geddes
J R
JR
Bailey
S
S
Freeman
C P
CP
McAleavy
A
A
Young
G C
GC
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