Homeless and incarcerated: An epidemiological study from Canada

Sahoo Saddichha, Joelle M Fliers, Jim Frankish, Julian Somers, Christian G Schuetz and Michael R Krausz

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2014, vol. 60, issue 8, 795-800

Abstract: Background: Incarceration and homelessness are closely related yet studied rarely. This article aimed to study the incarcerated homeless and identify specific vulnerabilities, which rendered them different from the nonincarcerated homeless. It also aimed to describe the homeless population and its significant involvement with the criminal justice and enforcement system. Methods: Data were derived from the British Columbia Health of the Homeless Study (BCHOHS), carried out in three cities in British Columbia, Canada: the large urban center Vancouver ( n = 250), Victoria ( n = 150) and Prince George ( n = 100). Measures included socio-demographic information, the Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Plus. Results: Incarcerated homeless were more often male (66.6%), were in foster care (56.4%) and had greater substance use especially of crack cocaine (69.6%) and crystal methamphetamine (78.7%). They also had greater scores on emotional and sexual abuse domains of CTQ, indicating greater abuse. A higher prevalence of depression (57%) and psychotic disorders (55.3%) was also observed. Risk factors identified which had a positive predictor value were male gender ( p

Keywords: Homeless; incarceration; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:60:y:2014:i:8:p:795-800

DOI: 10.1177/0020764014522776

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