Abstract
Objective
To examine the absolute and relative risk of homelessness following discharge from psychiatric wards in Denmark.
Methods
A nationwide, register‐based, cohort study including people aged 18+ years discharged from psychiatric wards in Denmark between Jan 1, 2001 and Dec 31, 2015. We analysed associations between psychiatric diagnoses and risk of homelessness using survival analysis.
Results
126,848 psychiatric inpatients were included accounting for 94,835 person‐years. The incidence of homelessness one year following discharge was 28.18 (95% CI 26.69−29.75) and 9.27 (95% CI 8.45−10.16) per 1000 person‐years at risk in men and women, respectively. The one‐year cumulative probability of first homelessness after discharge from psychiatric wards was 1.58% (95% CI 1.48−1.68) in males and 0.55% (95% CI 0.50−0.61) in females. Substance use disorders increased the risk of homelessness after discharge with adjusted incidence rate ratios of 6.60 (95% CI 5.19−8.40) (men) and 13.06 (95% CI 9.31−18.33) (women), compared with depressive disorders. Prior history of homelessness was an important predictor for homelessness following discharge.
Conclusions
The first year following discharge from psychiatric wards is a high‐risk period of homelessness, especially when having a substance use disorder or a prior history of homeless shelter contact. Improved efforts to prevent homelessness are needed.
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