Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-fqc5m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T18:45:37.916Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Social Disablement of Men in Hostels for Homeless People

I. Reliability and Prevalence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Extract

Background

Studies of mental health problems of homeless people have used diagnosis as the sole measure of these problems. In this study, the feasibility and reliability of measuring social disablement in the psychiatric assessment of homeless people was investigated.

Method

A random sample of 101 homeless men living in four long-stay hostels was assessed for their social disablement by the Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS). The prevalence of SBS problems in these men and the interobserver reliability were assessed.

Results

The results show that the SBS is a reliable screening instrument which is relatively easy to use. The most frequent SBS problems were ‘Other problems’, ‘Hostility’ and ‘Depression’. Less than 10% of the hostel sample had disablement items similar to those of patients in long-stay wards.

Conclusions

The SBS is a useful and reliable tool in the psychiatric assessment of men in hostels for the homeless.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.