title: The prevalence of traumatic brain injury in the homeless community in a UK city.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of traumatic brain injury in a sample of homeless individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey design and contacted 12 organizations providing services for homeless individuals across a city in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 100 homeless participants (75 males and 25 females) who met the inclusion criteria. A matched control group (n = 100) of individuals who were not homeless was also recruited. A questionnaire was administered to all participants to elicit information relating to history of possible traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that a significantly higher number of homeless participants (48%) reported a history of traumatic brain injury than control participants (21%). Of those homeless participants, 90% indicated they had sustained their first traumatic brain injury before they were homeless.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that rates of traumatic brain injury are much higher among the homeless population than in the general population and that sustaining a traumatic brain injury may be a risk factor for homelessness.
authors.affiliation: The Disabilities Trust Foundation, West Sussex, UK. michael.oddy@thedtgroup.org
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oddy
authors.forename: Jane Frances
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Moir
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fortescue
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chadwick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data