Mental health problems of the Edinburgh 'roofless'.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: The roofless have not been previously surveyed in detail looking specifically at their psychiatric status. METHOD: All roofless people in a discrete area were interviewed in their 'skippers' using a semi-structured interview. Other roofless people helped in case finding and diagnostic validity was confirmed using a computerised case register. RESULTS: Sixty-five people were interviewed. High rates of substance abuse (n = 48, 75%), and very low rates of psychotic illness (n = 2, 3%) were found. High rates of serious physical morbidity, of imprisonment and of being the victim of a crime were found. CONCLUSION: The roofless have multiple severe medical, social, and psychiatric problems. These all must be addressed when considering the provision of services.

Authors: Newton, JR; Geddes, J; Bailey, S; Freeman, C; McAleavy, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
• Volume: 165
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 537-540
• Publication date: 1994-10-01
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.165.4.537
• EISSN: 1472-1465
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• Language: English
• Keywords: Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Adolescent; Psychotic Disorders; Aged; Humans; Mental Disorders; Female; Scotland; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Alcoholism; Homeless Persons; Adult; Middle Aged; Comorbidity