THE SOCIAL DISABLEMENT OF MEN IN HOSTELS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE .1. RELIABILITY AND PREVALENCE

Background. Studies of mental health problems of homeless people have used diagnosis as the sole measure of these problems. In this study, t he 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 Schedul e (SBS). The prevalence of SBS problems in these men and the interobse rver reliability were assessed. Results. The results show that the SBS is a reliable screening instrument which is relatively easy to use. T he 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.