title: Comparison of quality of life in homeless and non-homeless Chinese patients with psychiatric disorders.
abstract: To date, there are no data on quality of life (QOL) and its correlates in homeless Chinese patients with psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to compare QOL between homeless and non-homeless patients with psychiatric disorders in China. A total of 278 homeless and 222 non-homeless patients matched in age and gender were consecutively recruited. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. A clinical interview was conducted using standardized instruments. The physical and mental QOL in both groups were lower than the normative data for Chinese general population, but there was no significant difference in any QOL domain between the two groups. Multivariate analyses of homeless patients revealed that male gender was associated with higher physical QOL, while living in cities and lower education level were associated with higher mental QOL. In non-homeless patients, use of second-generation antipsychotics was associated with lower physical QOL, while having more severe depressive symptoms was associated with lower mental QOL. Longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the contributing factors of QOL in both homeless and non-homeless patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Psychological Healthcare & Shenzhen Institute of Mental Health, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital & Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: helenchiu@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Helen F K
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: The University of Notre Dame Australia/Marian Centre, Perth, Australia; School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Chee H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Cai-Lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong General Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Huizhou Veteran Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Huizhou Veteran Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Larina C L
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China. Electronic address: xyutly@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: China; Depressive symptoms; Homelessness; Quality of life