Mentally Disturbed Homeless People in St. Louis: Needy, Willing, but Underserved

摘要: Recent research, first in Great Britain [1-6], and then the United States [7,8], has indicated that mental health problems are common among increasing numbers of homeless people. Relatively few studies [2-12], however, have empirically investigated characteristics needs These made important contributions to documenting existence serious homeless; but existing literature is plagued by a number problems, including controversial results on rate illness limited generalizability. Rates across samples range from 5% 90% [10,13],' 50%-70% being typical finding. The wide reported rates represents not only regional differences also varying diagnostic criteria. For example, considered persons with diagnoses primary substance abuse or personality disorders as mentally ill highest [9, 10]; much lower been investigators who exclude alcoholism [6]. Other methodological shortcomings contribute diversity findings, them: (a) nonrandom convenience, ( b ) small subjects, (c) selected single shelter agency, d) lack quantitative assessment. Bachrach [13] Bassuk [10] recently suggested most significant factor behind findings their