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Residential treatment for homeless female veterans with psychiatric and substance use disorders: Effect on 1-year clinical outcomes. Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD; Robert A. Rosenheck, MD; Rani Desai, PhD, MPH. Study Aim
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Residential treatment for homeless female veterans with psychiatric and substance use disorders: Effect on 1-year clinical outcomes Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD; Robert A. Rosenheck, MD; Rani Desai, PhD, MPH
Study Aim • Compare 1-year clinical outcomes of female veterans who did and did not receive 30+ days of residential treatment (RT). • Relevance • Epidemiologic research suggests . . . • Veterans are modestly overrepresented in homeless population. • Female veterans have 3–4 times higher risk for homelessness than their civilian counterparts. • Homeless veterans are at high risk for serious mental illness, trauma, and substance abuse .
Methods • Interviewed clients in 11 different VA Homeless Women Veterans programs every 3 months for 1 year. • Compared “RT group” (30+ days of RT within 3 months of program entry) with “No RT group” (no or <30 days of RT) on— • Community functioning. • Psychiatric symptoms. • Drug and alcohol use.
Results • RT group had better outcomes on employment, social support, housing status, and psychiatric symptoms then No RT group. • However, RT group also had significantly increased use of drugs and alcohol.
Conclusions • RT may have beneficial effect on mental health outcomes in homeless women. • Stable housing may be important element of recovery for homeless women with psychiatric problems, excluding substance use.