title: Characteristics of homeless adults with serious mental illness served by a state mental health transitional shelter.
abstract: Specialized transitional shelters are available in various cities to provide assistance to homeless individuals with serious mental illness. Little is known about the population using such shelters. The authors conducted a retrospective chart review to collect demographic, social, and clinical data of residents in a state-operated mental health transitional shelter in Massachusetts. A total of 74 subjects were included. Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were present in 67.6 % of the sample and mood disorders in 35.1 %. Substance use disorders were documented in 44.6 %. Chronic medical illness (mostly hypertension, dyslipidemia, asthma, and diabetes) was found in 82.4 %. The co-occurrence of a psychiatric and substance use disorder and chronic medical illness was found in 36.5 %. The majority (75.7 %) of patients had a history of legal charges. Homeless individuals with serious mental illness served by specialized transitional shelters represent a population with complex psychiatric, medical and social needs.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Mental Health Center, 75 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, mark.viron@state.ma.us.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viron
authors.forename: Iruma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Freudenreich
authors.forename: Derri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shtasel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006208:Halfway Houses; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult