Disability and service use among homeless people living with psychotic disorders.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of psychosis and needs for care among homeless people were studied in inner Melbourne.


METHODS
This was a two-stage nested study within the Australian National Survey of People Living with Psychotic Illness. A screen for psychosis was administered to a representative sample of men and women living in marginal housing in a mental health service catchment area. A selected subsample of 82 screen-positive respondents was interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis (DIP), a semistructured, standardized interview with three modules: (i) demography, functioning and quality of life; (ii) diagnosis; and (iii) service use.


RESULTS
An unexpectedly high prevalence of people living with psychotic disorders (estimated lifetime prevalence 42%, 95% CI=37-47%) may reflect a concentration of vulnerable people in the shrinking marginal housing supply in the inner city areas. Disability in everyday, occupational and social functioning is greater for this subgroup than for other people living with psychosis in Australia. Most people were single and unemployed, and many reported social isolation and feeling unsafe. Substance use disorders were common. Most people were using health services, including specialist mental health services, but few were receiving rehabilitation, vocational or housing support.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite high levels of contact with a well-organized, sectorized mental health service in an affluent country, this pocket of several hundred people had high levels of persisting disability and needs. The literature and local experience suggest that changing this situation is likely to require co-ordinated policy and practice between the health, welfare and housing sectors.
Herrman
Helen
H
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. helen.herman@svhm.org.au
Evert
Helen
H
Harvey
Carol
C
Gureje
Oye
O
Pinzone
Tony
T
Gordon
Ian
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012648:Self Care; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology