Effect of Victimization on Clinical Outcomes of Homeless Persons With Serious Mental Illness

• NCJ Number: 179306
• Journal: Psychiatric Services Volume: 49 Issue: 5 Dated: 05/1998 Pages: 678-683
• Author(s): Julie A. Lam Ph.D.; Robert Rosenheck M.D.
• Date Published: May 1998
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines the prevalence and correlates of criminal victimization and the relationship between victimization and client outcomes for homeless clients with mental illness.

Abstract

Subjects were clients in community treatment programs participating in the Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Supports (ACCESS) program of the Center for Mental Health Services. Forty-four percent of the clients had been victims of at least one crime during the 2 months before entering the program. Women were significantly more likely than men to have been victimized. The more severe the client’s psychotic symptoms, alcohol abuse, and criminal history, the more likely he or she was to have been victimized. Recent victimization had a significant impact on client outcomes in terms of increased homelessness and decreased quality of life. Victimization shortly before program entry was the single most important predictor of victimization at follow-up points. Tables, references