Psychosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Psychosis, including details on clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder.

Are Australian men with psychosis spending more time homeless?

Holmes A, Hodge M, Bradley G, Bluhm A, Markulev N, North C, Innis A

Department of Psychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Alexander.Holmes@mh.org.au

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if homeless men with psychosis using emergency accommodation services are spending more time homeless. METHOD: A 12-month accommodation history was collected from all men with psychosis referred to mental health services using two emergency accommodation services in inner Melbourne over a 5-year period. RESULTS: Of the 241 men referred with psychosis, 200 (81%) were able to provide a full accommodation history. In 2001 the mean total days spent in crisis accommodation was 27.0 days and in 2005 the mean number of days was 60.9. Over the 5 years, increasing time was spent homeless in the 12 months prior to assessment, most commonly in emergency accommodations. CONCLUSIONS: Australian men with psychosis using emergency accommodation are spending an increasing amount of time homeless.

Published 12 March 2008 in Australas Psychiatry, 16(2): 114-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Psychosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.