RISK-FACTORS FOR HOMELESSNESS AMONG WOMEN WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

A study of risk factors for homelessness among the severely mentally i ll was extended to include women, and a case-control study of 100 indi gent women with schizophrenia meeting criteria for literal homelessnes s and 100 such women with no history of homelessness was conducted. Su bjects were recruited from shelters, clinics, and inpatient psychiatri c programs in New York City. Clinical interviewers used standardized r esearch instruments to probe three domains of risk factors: severity o f mental illness, family background, and prior mental health service u se. Findings adjusted for ethnicity revealed that homeless women had h igher rates of a concurrent diagnosis of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, an d antisocial personality disorder. Homeless women also had less adequa te family support.