Gender, hospitalization and mental disorders among homeless people compared with the general population in Stockholm.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to study the prevalence of mental disorders among homeless men and women admitted for inpatient treatment in hospitals.


METHODS
Hospital care utilization of homeless people, 1364 men and 340 women, was compared with a control group consisting of 3750 men and 1250 women from the general population, 1996-2002.


RESULTS
Homeless women ran a higher risk for mental disorders than women in the population [risk ratio (RR) 20.88]; their risk was also higher than the risk for homeless men (RR 1.20). Younger homeless women had the highest risk (RR 2.17). Alcohol use disorders were equally common among homeless men and women, but women had more drug use disorders (RR 1.32). Women had higher risk of schizophrenia (RR 2.79), and personality disorders (RR 2.73). When adjustment was made for substance use disorders, no increased risk for mental disorder was found in the homeless group.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevated risk for mental disorders among the homeless was mainly related to substance use problems. Younger homeless women had the highest risk of mental disorder.
Beijer
Ulla
U
Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. u.beijer@telia.com
Andréasson
Sven
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology