[Mental Disorder and Self-Rated Health Among Homeless People in Zurich - First Epidemiological Data from Switzerland]

Psychiatr Prax. 2017 Sep;44(6):339-347. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-111742. Epub 2016 Sep 14.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Objective This study aims to assess psychiatric morbidity and self-rated health (SRH) of homeless people in Zurich, Switzerland. Methods Cross-sectional study of N = 338 homeless people, assessement of psychiatric disorders (ICD-10), level of functioning (GAF, HoNOS), self-rated health. Comparison of SRH among homeless people with a sample of Zurich (N = 956) and Swiss (N = 21 579) population. Results 96 % of the homeless people had at least one psychiatric disorder, most of them drug- (60.9 %) or alcohol-dependence (41.5 %). Homeless people had a far lower SRH than the Zurich population. Higher impairment in HoNOS was associated with lower levels of SRH. Low SRH was associated with help care seeking (OR = 1.9, p < 0.001) and medication (OR = 1.5, p = 0.006). Conclusions The prevalence of psychiatric disorders is far higher among homeless people compared to the general population in Zurich. Implications for providing help at the intersection of social and health care are discussed.

Anliegen Untersuchung der psychiatrischen Morbidität und der subjektiven Gesundheit (self-rated health, SRH) bei Wohnungslosen in der Stadt Zürich. Methode Querschnittsstudie bei Wohnungslosen (n = 338) in Zürich und Vergleich der SRH mit jener der Allgemeinbevölkerung (n = 21 597). Ergebnisse Bei 96 % der Wohnungslosen lag mindestens eine psychiatrische Diagnose vor, am häufigsten Drogen- oder Alkoholabhängigkeit. Wohnungslose bewerteten ihre Gesundheit signifikant schlechter als die Allgemeinbevölkerung. Schlussfolgerungen Auch in Zürich sind Wohnungslose weit häufiger von psychischer Krankheit betroffen als die Allgemeinbevölkerung. Die SRH ist ein Indikator für die effektive Gesundheit und ist mit der Inanspruchnahme medizinischer Leistungen assoziiert.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living / classification
  • Activities of Daily Living / psychology
  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / psychology*
  • Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Switzerland

Substances

  • Psychotropic Drugs