The risk of purified protein derivative positivity in homeless men with psychotic symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Homeless people with mental illness have relatively high rates of human immunodeficiency virus, comorbid antisocial personality disorder, and may be homeless more frequently and for greater lengths of time. All of these factors may increase the risk of tuberculosis.


METHODS
Our study was done to ascertain if homeless men with psychotic disorders are at an increased risk for tuberculosis infection. One hundred fifty homeless men were interviewed and given purified protein derivatives (PPDs) at a downtown shelter in New Orleans, Louisiana, during a 3-month period.


RESULTS
The findings show a strong relationship between psychotic disorders and positive PPDs, with a relative risk of 4.48.


CONCLUSIONS
Homelessness and mental illness present barriers to seeking and completing treatment for medical illnesses such as tuberculosis. Use of services may be low even when available; therefore, homeless men with psychotic disorders may be serving as a reservoir for tuberculosis.
Sakai
J
J
Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Kim
M
M
Shore
J
J
Hepfer
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis