title: Mental health services for homeless: patient profile and factors associated with suicide and homicide.
abstract: This study aimed to establish a profile of users of the mental health service for homeless in Cork, comparing this group with those attending a General Adult Service. The homeless group were significantly more likely to be male (89% v. 46%o), unemployed (96% v. 68%), unmarried (98% v. 75%) and under 65 (94% v. 83%). Diagnostically, there was a significantly higher prevalence of schizophrenia (50% v. 34%); personality disorder (37% v. 11%) and substance dependence (74% v. 19%) in the homeless service users. They were more likely to have a history of deliberate self harm (54% v. 21%) and violence (48% v. 10%). Severe mental illness has a high prevalence in the homeless population, with particularly high levels of factors associated with suicide and homicide. Poor compliance and complexity of illness lead to a requirement for significant input from multidisciplinary mental health teams members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. elaine.dunne@ucc.ie
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult