Objectives: Homelessness causes huge distress to a vulnerable population and great concern to wider society. The aim of this study was to reflect the prevalence of mental disorder within a subset of the homeless population in Dublin.
Method: Long-term rough sleepers in Dublin were identified by the relevant non-statutory agency (Dublin Simon Community's Rough Sleepers Team). The authors attempted to assess all the identified individuals employing traditional clinical methods.
Results: We managed to assess 16 of the 22 identified individuals. We detected no formal disorder in ~30%, severe mental illness in ~30% and either alcohol or substance misuse in another ~30%. We detected dual diagnosis (co-occurrence of severe mental illness and alcohol or substance misuse) in 10%.
Conclusion: Most but not all long-term rough sleepers in Dublin had a formal mental disorder identified. Just under one-third had a severe mental illness. This suggests that individualised patient centred health and social care will be required on a case by case basis in the long-term rough sleeping population.
Keywords: Homeless; mental disorder; mental illness; psychiatric illness; rough sleeping.