Background: The aim was to study the prevalence of mental disorders among homeless men and women admitted for inpatient treatment in hospitals.
Methods: Hospital care utilization of homeless people, 1364 men and 340 women, was compared with a control group consisting of 3750 men and 1250 women from the general population, 1996-2002.
Results: Homeless women ran a higher risk for mental disorders than women in the population [risk ratio (RR) 20.88]; their risk was also higher than the risk for homeless men (RR 1.20). Younger homeless women had the highest risk (RR 2.17). Alcohol use disorders were equally common among homeless men and women, but women had more drug use disorders (RR 1.32). Women had higher risk of schizophrenia (RR 2.79), and personality disorders (RR 2.73). When adjustment was made for substance use disorders, no increased risk for mental disorder was found in the homeless group.
Conclusion: The elevated risk for mental disorders among the homeless was mainly related to substance use problems. Younger homeless women had the highest risk of mental disorder.