Subtle neurological deficits and psychopathological findings in substance-abusing homeless and non-homeless veterans.
This study evaluated the hypothesis that homeless individuals would display higher levels of neurological deficits than non-homeless individuals, particularly in frontal lobe or executive functions. Eighteen acutely homeless, 15 chronically homeless, and 20 non-homeless individuals admitted to an inpatient psychiatric service received a battery of neurological and psychosocial measures. In comparison to non-homeless subjects with comparable levels of psychopathology, homeless individuals showed higher levels of hostility, prior criminal activity, and family history of psychiatric illness, but lower levels of depression. A positive relationship between hostility and neurological soft signs was observed among chronically homeless subjects. These results suggest that a substantial subset of nonpsychotic homeless veterans suffers from "occult" neurological deficits.
Douyon
R
R
Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Florida, USA.
Guzman
P
P
Romain
G
G
Ireland
S J
SJ
Mendoza
L
L
Lopez-Blanco
M
M
Milanes
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D015438:Health Behavior; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019954:Neurobehavioral Manifestations; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*