BACKGROUND: Homelessness is a growing problem in the cities of the western world, and homeless people have a plethora of mental health and social difficulties. These are, nevertheless, difficult to evaluate epidemiologically. METHOD: In this paper we present a population survey using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) conducted in the city of Paris in winter 1996 on a representative sample of 838 homeless people. Night shelters as well as food kitchens were randomly sampled, and the mean response rate was around 65%. RESULTS: The sample was relatively young and predominantly male (85%). Forty percent were born outside France, 96% had worked at some time, and one-third reported no resources at all. The lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 57.9%, while the 1-year prevalence was 29.1%. For definite psychotic disorders, prevalence was 16% (lifetime) and 6% (1 year). Generally, this Parisian homeless population had some access to care: in the preceding 6 months 57.7% of them had been medically attended and 14.2% of these had been hospitalised. The survey was cross-sectional, and did not evaluate regular access to care or the quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: The implications for health and social systems are discussed in the light of comparisons with European and North American data.
BACKGROUND: Homelessness is a growing problem in the cities of the western world, and homeless people have a plethora of mental health and social difficulties. These are, nevertheless, difficult to evaluate epidemiologically. METHOD: In this paper we present a population survey using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) conducted in the city of Paris in winter 1996 on a representative sample of 838 homeless people. Night shelters as well as food kitchens were randomly sampled, and the mean response rate was around 65%. RESULTS: The sample was relatively young and predominantly male (85%). Forty percent were born outside France, 96% had worked at some time, and one-third reported no resources at all. The lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 57.9%, while the 1-year prevalence was 29.1%. For definite psychotic disorders, prevalence was 16% (lifetime) and 6% (1 year). Generally, this Parisian homeless population had some access to care: in the preceding 6 months 57.7% of them had been medically attended and 14.2% of these had been hospitalised. The survey was cross-sectional, and did not evaluate regular access to care or the quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: The implications for health and social systems are discussed in the light of comparisons with European and North American data.
Authors: Michael G Madianos; Paraskevi Chondraki; George N Papadimitriou Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2013-03-19 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Margit Kaldmäe; Mihkel Zilmer; Margus Viigimaa; Galina Zemtsovskaja; Karel Tomberg; Tanel Kaart; Margus Annuk Journal: Ups J Med Sci Date: 2011-06-22 Impact factor: 2.384
Authors: Dana Kubisová; Vera Adámková; Vera Lánská; Pavel Dlouhý; Jolana Rambousková; Michal Andel Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-04-05 Impact factor: 3.295