Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Addictions among Homeless People in the Greater Paris Area, France

Anne Laporte, Stéphanie Vandentorren, Marc-Antoine Détrez, Caroline Douay, Yann Le Strat, Erwan Le Méner, Pierre Chauvin and The Samenta Research Group
Additional contact information
Anne Laporte: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
Stéphanie Vandentorren: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
Marc-Antoine Détrez: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
Caroline Douay: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
Yann Le Strat: Santé publique France, French National Public Health Agency, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France
Erwan Le Méner: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
Pierre Chauvin: INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d’épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Department of Social Epidemiology, 75012 Paris, France
The Samenta Research Group: The Samenta Research Group: François Beck, Christine Chan-Chee, Jean-Marie Firdion, Marie-Jeanne Guedj, Marie Jauffret-Roustide, Stéphane Legleye, Valérie Le Masson, Alain Mercuel, Sylvie Zucca, 75012 Paris, France.

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: The Samenta study was conducted in 2009 in the Greater Paris area to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in homeless people. A cross-sectional survey was performed with a three-stage random sample of homeless people ( n = 859), including users of day services, emergency shelters, hot meal distribution, long-term rehabilitation centres, and social hotels. Information was collected by a lay interviewer, using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and completed by a psychologist through an open clinical interview. In the end, a psychiatrist assessed the psychiatric diagnosis according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD, 10th revision). One third of homeless people in the Paris area had at least one severe psychiatric disorder (SPD): psychotic disorders (13%), anxiety disorders (12%), or severe mood disorders (7%). One in five was alcohol-dependent and 18% were drug users. Homeless women had significantly higher prevalence of anxiety disorders and depression compared to men, who were more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders. Homeless people of French origin were at higher risk of SPD, as well as people who experienced various adverse life events before the age of 18 (running away, sexual violence, parental disputes, and/or addictions) and those who experienced homelessness for the first time before the age of 26. The prevalence rates of the main psychiatric disorders within the homeless population of our study are consistent with those reported in other Western cities. Our results advocate for an improvement in the detection, housing, and care of psychiatric homeless people.

Keywords: homeless; mental health; epidemiology; psychotic disorders; anxiety; mood disorders; alcohol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:241-:d:129556

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