USE OF THE DELUSIONS SYMPTOMS STATES INVENTORY TO DETECT PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS IN A SAMPLE OF HOMELESS MEN

Background. Previous research, often using the symptom-sign inventory, has demonstrated a high prevalence of psychiatric disorder among home less people. The delusions -symptoms-states inventory detects the pres ence or absence of four classes of psychiatric illness-delusions of di sintegration, integrated delusions, neurotic symptoms and dysthymic st ates. Aim. A study was undertaken to determine the utility of the delu sions-symptoms-states inventory in a sample of homeless men, and the p revalence of psychiatric symptoms in this group. Method. The inventory was administered to 55 homeless men in a reception centre in Sheffiel d. Results. Nearly half of the men obtained scores on the inventory su ggesting that they had psychiatric symptoms. There was an overlap of s yndromes, particularly among those with severe psychiatric illness. Fo r example, seven men had all four classes of psychiatric illness. Conc lusion. Use of the questionnaire proved satisfactory. The findings sup port the contention that reception centres and similar accommodation a re repositories for homeless mentally ill people.