Psychiatric Disorders, High-risk Behaviors, and Chronicity of Episodes Among Predominantly African American Homeless Chicago Youth

Overview

Journal J Health Care Poor Underserved

Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press

Date 2014 Aug 19

PMID 25130234

Citations 11

Authors

Anne L Castro

Erika L Gustafson

Ashley E Ford

Jennifer P Edidin

Dale L Smith

Scott J Hunter

Niranjan S Karnik

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between psychiatric and substance-related disorders, high-risk behaviors, and the onset, duration, and frequency of homelessness among homeless youth in Chicago.

Methods: Sixty-six homeless youth were recruited from two shelters in Chicago. Demographic characteristics, psycho-pathology, substance use, and risk behaviors were assessed for each participant.

Results: Increased frequency and duration of homeless episodes were positively correlated with higher rates of psychiatric diagnoses. Increased number of psychiatric diagnoses was positively correlated with increased high-risk behaviors. Participants with diagnoses of Current Suicidality, Manic Episodes, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Substance Abuse, and Psychotic Disorder had a higher chronicity of homelessness than those without diagnoses.

Conclusions: Significant differences were evident between the three time parameters, suggesting that stratification of data by different time variables may benefit homelessness research by identifying meaningful subgroups who may benefit from individualized interventions.

Citing Articles

Youth experiencing homelessness at risk for suicide: psychosocial risk factors and service use patterns.

Chavez L, Kelleher K, Bunger A, Feng X, Fitzpatrick M, Ford J BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):444.

PMID: 39905400 PMC: 11792679. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-21212-2.

The global prevalence of mental health disorders among runaway and homeless youth: A meta-analysis.

Armoon B, Ghadipasha A, Mohammadi R, Lesage A, Harooni J, Griffiths M Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024; 34(2):535-564.

PMID: 38995408 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02519-2.

A Challenging Yet Motivating Journey: The Experiences of Young Adult Parents With Serious Mental Health Conditions in the USA.

Sabella K, Baczko A, Lane I, Golden L, Pici-DOttavio E, ONeill M Front Psychiatry. 2022; 13:814185.

PMID: 35370850 PMC: 8967164. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.814185.

Efficacy of a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Promote HIV Risk Reduction Behaviors Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Santa Maria D, Padhye N, Businelle M, Yang Y, Jones J, Sims A J Med Internet Res. 2021; 23(7):e26704.

PMID: 34255679 PMC: 8292946. DOI: 10.2196/26704.

Addressing Intersecting Social and Mental Health Needs Among Transition-Age Homeless Youths: A Review of the Literature.

Winiarski D, Glover A, Bounds D, Karnik N Psychiatr Serv. 2021; 72(3):317-324.

PMID: 33397145 PMC: 7920918. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900498.

References

Hein L . Survival strategies of male homeless adolescents. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc. 2011; 17(4):274-82. DOI: 10.1177/1078390311407913. View

Naranbhai V, Abdool Karim Q, Meyer-Weitz A . Interventions to modify sexual risk behaviours for preventing HIV in homeless youth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011; (1):CD007501. PMC: 3624078. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007501.pub2. View

Rosenthal D, Rotheram-Borus M, Batterham P, Mallett S, Rice E, Milburn N . Housing stability over two years and HIV risk among newly homeless youth. AIDS Behav. 2007; 11(6):831-41. PMC: 2882569. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-007-9235-6. View

Edidin J, Ganim Z, Hunter S, Karnik N . The mental and physical health of homeless youth: a literature review. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2011; 43(3):354-75. DOI: 10.1007/s10578-011-0270-1. View

Ferguson K, Jun J, Bender K, Thompson S, Pollio D . A comparison of addiction and transience among street youth: Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri. Community Ment Health J. 2009; 46(3):296-307. DOI: 10.1007/s10597-009-9264-x. View

Rew L, Grady M, Whittaker T, Bowman K . Interaction of duration of homelessness and gender on adolescent sexual health indicators. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2008; 40(2):109-15. DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2008.00214.x. View

Caton C, Dominguez B, Schanzer B, Hasin D, Shrout P, Felix A . Risk factors for long-term homelessness: findings from a longitudinal study of first-time homeless single adults. Am J Public Health. 2005; 95(10):1753-9. PMC: 1449432. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.063321. View

Slesnick N, Bartle-Haring S, Dashora P, Kang M, Aukward E . Predictors of Homelessness Among Street Living Youth. J Youth Adolesc. 2008; 37(4):465-474. PMC: 2440723. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-007-9188-0. View

Kulik D, Gaetz S, Crowe C, Ford-Jones E . Homeless youth's overwhelming health burden: A review of the literature. Paediatr Child Health. 2012; 16(6):e43-7. PMC: 3328221. DOI: 10.1093/pch/16.6.e43. View

10.

Goering P, Boydell K . Becoming and remaining homeless: a qualitative investigation. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2001; 21(6):581-604. DOI: 10.1080/01612840050110290. View

11.

Slesnick N, Kang M, Bonomi A, Prestopnik J . Six- and twelve-month outcomes among homeless youth accessing therapy and case management services through an urban drop-in center. Health Serv Res. 2008; 43(1 Pt 1):211-29. PMC: 2323142. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2007.00755.x. View

12.

Berdahl T, Hoyt D, Whitbeck L . Predictors of first mental health service utilization among homeless and runaway adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2005; 37(2):145-54. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.08.030. View

13.

Nyamathi A, Hudson A, Greengold B, Leake B . Characteristics of homeless youth who use cocaine and methamphetamine. Am J Addict. 2012; 21(3):243-9. PMC: 3794708. DOI: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00233.x. View

14.

Kipke M, Montgomery S, Simon T, Iverson E . "Substance abuse" disorders among runaway and homeless youth. Subst Use Misuse. 1997; 32(7-8):969-86. DOI: 10.3109/10826089709055866. View

15.

Whitbeck L, Johnson K, Hoyt D, Cauce A . Mental disorder and comorbidity among runaway and homeless adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2004; 35(2):132-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.08.011. View

16.

Kertesz S, Larson M, Horton N, Winter M, Saitz R, Samet J . Homeless chronicity and health-related quality of life trajectories among adults with addictions. Med Care. 2005; 43(6):574-85. DOI: 10.1097/01.mlr.0000163652.91463.b4. View

17.

Milburn N, Iribarren F, Rice E, Lightfoot M, Solorio R, Rotheram-Borus M . A family intervention to reduce sexual risk behavior, substance use, and delinquency among newly homeless youth. J Adolesc Health. 2012; 50(4):358-64. PMC: 3313467. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.08.009. View

18.

Steele R, Ramgoolam A, Evans Jr J . Health services for homeless adolescents. Semin Pediatr Infect Dis. 2003; 14(1):38-42. DOI: 10.1053/spid.2003.127216. View

19.

Rice E, Monro W, Barman-Adhikari A, Young S . Internet use, social networking, and HIV/AIDS risk for homeless adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2010; 47(6):610-3. PMC: 2994071. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.04.016. View