title: Daily substance use and mental health symptoms among a cohort of homeless adults in Vancouver, British Columbia.
abstract: Substance use can be a barrier to stable housing for homeless persons with mental disorders. We examined DSM-IV symptoms among homeless adults (N = 497), comparing those who reported daily substance use (DSU) with non-daily substance users. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to test the independent association between DSU and symptoms using the Colorado Symptom Index total score. DSU was independently associated with higher symptoms (beta = 3.67, 95 % CI 1.55-5.77) adjusting for homelessness history, age, gender, ethnicity, education, marital status, and mental disorder sub-type (adjusted R (2) = 0.24). We observed a higher prevalence of DSU in our sample than has been previously reported in a Housing First intervention. DSU was also independently associated with more DSM-IV symptomatology. We have an opportunity to observe this cohort longitudinally and examine if there are changes in substance use based on treatment assignment and commensurate changes in housing stability, community integration, health status, and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 588B-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada. anita@hivnet.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palepu
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strehlau
authors.forename: Akm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moniruzzamen
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan de Bibiana
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frankish
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krausz
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Somers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult