Are Australian men with psychosis spending more time homeless?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine if homeless men with psychosis using emergency accommodation services are spending more time homeless.


METHODS
A 12-month accommodation history was collected from all men with psychosis referred to mental health services using two emergency accommodation services in inner Melbourne over a 5-year period.


RESULTS
Of the 241 men referred with psychosis, 200 (81%) were able to provide a full accommodation history. In 2001 the mean total days spent in crisis accommodation was 27.0 days and in 2005 the mean number of days was 60.9. Over the 5 years, increasing time was spent homeless in the 12 months prior to assessment, most commonly in emergency accommodations.


CONCLUSIONS
Australian men with psychosis using emergency accommodation are spending an increasing amount of time homeless.
Holmes
Alex
A
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Alexander.Holmes@mh.org.au
Hodge
Mark
M
Bradley
Gail
G
Bluhm
Alan
A
Markulev
Natasha
N
North
Cameron
C
Innis
Andy
A
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data