The chief scientist reports.... Prevalence of psychiatric disorder, cognitive impairment and functional disability among homeless people resident in hostels.

This cross-sectional survey was performed to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorder among homeless residents of hostels in Edinburgh and to relate it to functional impairment. Full diagnostic assessments were completed on 136/198 (69%) of the subjects. Thirty-one per cent of subjects (95% CI 25, 42) had significant functional impairment and this was most strongly associated with the presence of functional psychosis and cognitive impairment. Few of the cognitively impaired subjects were in contact with health or social services.