[Homeless women with psychiatric disorders -- a field study].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the psychosocial situation of all homeless women in a southern German university town.


METHODS
The scope, structure and whereabouts of the target group were initially unknown. 17 of 22 homeless women identified agreed to participate in an extensive study including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SKID-I).


RESULTS
The prevalence of diagnosed psychiatric disorders was 71 %; the leading disorder was substance abuse/dependence (43 %), followed by anxiety disorders (35 %) and schizophrenia (12 %). Multiple diagnoses were made in 35 % of the women.


CONCLUSIONS
Striking features were the often early onset of homelessness and the reticence in seeking help. The flight from violence was a crucial precipitant of the loss of the home and should also be discussed in the context of the development of the psychiatric disorders. This study is the first involving women outside major cities. Precipitant situation, need for help and help-seeking pattern appear to deviate markedly from those of homeless men. The results should be verified in further gender-specific studies.
Torchalla
Iris
I
Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Tübingen.
Albrecht
Friederike
F
Buchkremer
Gerhard
G
Längle
Gerhard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology