J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2001 Sep;40(5):804-812.

Prevalence of Mental Disorder and Quality of Life among the Homeless People in a City Shelter

• Han OS
• Hong JP
• Ha JH
• Lee C
• Kim CY
• Lee DW
• Park JI

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Homeless people surged after financial crisis tend to be chronic despite late economic recovery. So we tried to estimate prevalence of mental illness and quality of life of the homeless population living in shelter. METHOD: The study subjects were 220 homeless peoples who stayed at a shelter in Seoul around March 2000. Questionnaires on sociodemographic data were administered to the subjects, and then diagnoses of major DSM-IV Axis I mental disorders were made using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders(SCID). And quality of life(QOL) was evaluated by SmithKline Beecham Quality of Life Scale(SBQOL).
RESULTS
The lifetime prevalence of major DSM-IV mental disorders(mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders) of 220 homeless people was 73.6%, and current prevalence was 59.1%. The lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence and abuse was highest, 59.5% and those of mood disorders and psychotic disorders were 39.5%, 3.6% respectively. Quality of life was not significantly correlated with duration of homelessness and unemployment but marital status, self perceive health status, suicidal attempt history were significant factors. The quality of life in the people with mood disorders were estimated to be lower than those with any other diseases(p<0.01).
CONCLUSION
Alcoholism was the most prevalent mental disorder in homeless people and mood disorder was negatively related to the quality of life scale.

Keyword

Epidemiological study; Homeless; Shelter; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Alcoholism
Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Diagnosis
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Epidemiologic Studies
Homeless Persons
Humans
Marital Status
Mental Disorders*
Mood Disorders
Prevalence*
Psychotic Disorders
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Seoul
Unemployment