TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in clinical and social situation after involuntary admission of homeless people with psychotic disorders: A one-year follow-up study

AU - Vorting, Amanda Frisk

AU - Henriksen, Mads Gram

AU - Nordgaard, Julie

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - BackgroundMental illness is one of the main reasons for homelessness in Denmark. Yet, some patients do not accept psychiatric treatment despite need for treatment. This can lead to involuntary admission. In this study, we examined changes after involuntary admissions of mentally ill homeless people.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal, naturalistic follow-up study of patients who had been involuntarily admitted by the Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service through 1 year. We examined changes in mental condition, social situation, and substance use of mentally ill homeless people one year after involuntary admission.ResultsAt baseline, 28 patients were included: 86% of them had been admitted before, 46% had a substance use, and 25% had prior been convicted of a violent crime. 89% of the patients were discharged to the streets. At 12 months, 50% of the patients had symptom reduction, 36% were in psychiatric treatment, and only 14% had acquired permanent housing. No improvements in substance use were observed and 11% of the patients had new convictions after 12 months. During the study period, a total of 24 readmissions distributed on 14 patients was found.ConclusionInvoluntary admissions can be an effective treatment of psychiatric aspects of mentally ill homeless patients. Unfortunately, a substantial part of these patients was quickly discharged before sufficient treatment, leaving room for improvement. Furthermore, few improvements were seen concerning the patients’ social situation. More focus on the coherence between psychiatric and municipality services, targeting the social issues and substance use of homeless patients, is strongly needed.

AB - BackgroundMental illness is one of the main reasons for homelessness in Denmark. Yet, some patients do not accept psychiatric treatment despite need for treatment. This can lead to involuntary admission. In this study, we examined changes after involuntary admissions of mentally ill homeless people.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal, naturalistic follow-up study of patients who had been involuntarily admitted by the Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service through 1 year. We examined changes in mental condition, social situation, and substance use of mentally ill homeless people one year after involuntary admission.ResultsAt baseline, 28 patients were included: 86% of them had been admitted before, 46% had a substance use, and 25% had prior been convicted of a violent crime. 89% of the patients were discharged to the streets. At 12 months, 50% of the patients had symptom reduction, 36% were in psychiatric treatment, and only 14% had acquired permanent housing. No improvements in substance use were observed and 11% of the patients had new convictions after 12 months. During the study period, a total of 24 readmissions distributed on 14 patients was found.ConclusionInvoluntary admissions can be an effective treatment of psychiatric aspects of mentally ill homeless patients. Unfortunately, a substantial part of these patients was quickly discharged before sufficient treatment, leaving room for improvement. Furthermore, few improvements were seen concerning the patients’ social situation. More focus on the coherence between psychiatric and municipality services, targeting the social issues and substance use of homeless patients, is strongly needed.

U2 - 10.1080/08039488.2021.1881820

DO - 10.1080/08039488.2021.1881820

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33612065

VL - 75

SP - 447

EP - 453

JO - Nordisk Psykiatrisk Tidsskrift

JF - Nordisk Psykiatrisk Tidsskrift

SN - 0803-9496

IS - 6

ER -