title: High positive psychiatric screening rates in an urban homeless population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To carry out a preliminary assessment of the use of a psychiatric screening tool in an urban homeless population, and to estimate the potential prevalence of undiagnosed and (or) unmanaged mental illness in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 166) were recruited from the Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Centre to complete a questionnaire containing 6 modules screening for common psychiatric disorders. Summary statistics were used in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 12 respondents (7%) screened negative on each of the 6 modules. The screening process determined that 60.2% of the sample (n = 100) had probable mental illness but reported no history of psychiatric diagnosis or treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A straightforward application of screening (in which screen-positive subjects are referred for assessment) would be difficult in this population as most will screen positive. The results highlight the tremendous burden of psychiatric symptoms in this population.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. aravindganeshy@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Aravind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.forename: David J T
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: homelessness; mental illness; psychiatric screening