THE ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHIATRIC-DIAGNOSIS WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS IN ALARGE URBAN HOMELESS SAMPLE

Assessment of psychiatric disorders encounters unique complexities in homeless populations. Although the use of structured diagnostic instru ments has significantly-improved research methodology in this area, qu estions remain about the validity of using cross-sectional diagnostic methods derived from studies of more general populations, In particula r, the validity of structured diagnostic instruments in the assessment of schizophrenia, depression, drug use disorder, and antisocial perso nality disorder (ASPD) in homeless populations has been questioned. Th e purpose of this stud. was to examine the association of psychiatric diagnoses with the weather. It was hypothesized that self-report of ps ychiatric illness may be affected by prevailing weather conditions. Ni ne hundred homeless subjects randomly sampled from St. Louis shelters, day centers, and unsheltered locations were interviewed over a 1-year period. Official average daily temperature and amount of precipitatio n on the da of each subject's interview were compared with lifetime an d current psychiatric diagnoses ascertained by the Diagnostic Intervie wed Schedule. Similar analyses were performed in general population da ta from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. The study found that a mong homeless men, inclement weather on the day of interview was assoc iated with lifetime and current diagnoses of major depression. lifetim e drug use disorder, lifetime diagnosis of ASPD, and curl-ent alcohol use disorder. These findings, however, were not present in homeless wo men and not reflected in the general population. The results, although limited, suggest that weather may confound cross-sectional, standardi zed methods of psychiatric diagnosis in homeless men. Weather-related factors among homeless men are associated with ascertainment of both l ifetime and current diagnosis of major depression, as well as lifetime drug List disorder and ASPD and current alcohol use disorder. Possibl e interpretations of these findings are discussed, with implications f or intervention strategies for psychiatric disorders in the larger con text of homelessness and social problems.