Treating the homeless mentally ill: does a designated inpatient facility improve outcome?

A systematic review of approaches to improve medication adherence in homeless adults with psychiatric disorders

Introduction

Medication non-adherence is a significant problem among homeless individuals with psychiatric disorders in the United States. We conducted a systematic review to identify strategies to improve psychiatric medication adherence among homeless individuals with psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders.

Methods

We searched seven databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, CDSR, and CENTRAL) and screened 664 studies by title and abstract followed by full-text review. Our inclusion criteria were studies that: involved an intervention for homeless adults with psychiatric disorders, reported a quantitative outcome of medication adherence, and were published in English in a peer-reviewed journal. We rated the relative effectiveness of strategies described in each study using a self-designed scale.

Results

Eleven peer-reviewed studies met criteria for inclusion in this review. Within these studies, there were seven different approaches to improve medication adherence in this population. Three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the remaining were observational studies. Outpatient interventions included Assertive Community Treatment, Cell Phone-Assisted Monitoring, Customized Adherence Enhancement plus Long-Acting Injectable Medications, and Homeless-Designated Pharmacy Clinics. Residential, shelter-based, and inpatient interventions included use of the Housing First model, Modified Therapeutic Communities, and Homeless-Designated Inpatient Care. The approaches described in four of the eleven studies were rated as scoring a 3 or higher on a 5-point scale of effectiveness in improving medication adherence; none received 5 points.

Discussion

The interventions with the strongest evidence for improving medication adherence in this population were Assertive Community Treatment, Customized Adherence Enhancement plus Long-Acting Injectable Medications, and Housing First. Overall, studies on this topic required more rigor and focus on medication adherence as an outcome in this population. This review highlights several promising strategies and the need for larger RCTs to determine effective and diverse ways to improve medication adherence among homeless adults with psychiatric disorders.

Hospital-based preventative interventions for people experiencing homelessness in high-income countries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

People experiencing homelessness have significant unmet needs and high rates of unplanned care. We aimed to describe preventative interventions, defined in their broadest sense, for people experiencing homelessness in a hospital context. Secondary aims included mapping outcomes and assessing intervention effectiveness.

METHODS

We searched online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) from 1999-2019 and conducted backward and forward citation searches to 31 December 2020 (PROSPERO CRD42019154036). We included quantitative studies in emergency and inpatient settings measuring health or social outcomes for adults experiencing homelessness in high income countries. We assessed rigour using the "Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies" and summarised findings using descriptive quantitative methods, a binomial test, a Harvest Plot, and narrative synthesis. We used PRISMA and SWiM reporting guidelines.

FINDINGS

Twenty-eight studies identified eight intervention types: care coordination (n=18); advocacy, support, and outreach (n=13); social welfare assistance (n=13); discharge planning (n=12); homelessness identification (n=6); psychological therapy and treatment (n=6); infectious disease prevention (n=5); and screening, treatment, and referrals (n=5). The evidence strength was weak (n=16) to moderate (n=10), with two high quality randomised controlled trials. We identified six outcome categories with potential benefits observed for psychosocial outcomes, including housing (11/13 studies, 95%CI=54.6-98.1%, p=0.023), healthcare use (14/17, 56.6-96.2%, p=0.013), and healthcare costs (8/8, 63.1-100%, p=0.008). Benefits were less likely for health outcomes (4/5, 28.3-99.5%, p=0.375), integration with onward care (2/4, 6.8-93.2%, p=1.000), and feasibility/acceptability (5/6, 35.9-99.6%, p=0.219), but confidence intervals were very wide. We observed no harms. Most studies showing potential benefits were multi-component interventions.

INTERPRETATION

Hospital-based preventative interventions for people experiencing homelessness are potentially beneficial, but more rigorous research is needed. In the context of high needs and extreme inequities, policymakers and healthcare providers may consider implementing multi-component preventative interventions.

FUNDING

SL is supported by an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship (ICA-CDRF-2016-02-042). JD is supported by an NIHR School of Public Health Research Pre-doctoral Fellowship (NU-004252). RWA is supported by a Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship (206602).

Impact on the use and cost of other services following intervention by an inpatient pathway homelessness team in an acute mental health hospital

Background: Mental illness in people experiencing homelessness is common and a key reason for attendance at emergency departments and admission to hospital.Aims: This paper describes how the KHP Pathway homeless team impacted use and cost of health and wider services. The Pathway model had never been adopted by a mental health hospital, and there had never been an economic analysis to evaluate service use before and after intervention.Method: Service use was measured using an adapted version of the Client Service Receipt Inventory (CSRI) with a simple before and after design at admission, 3 months and 6 months after discharge from hospital.Results: During the first 3-month follow-up, over half the participants saw a GP, with an increase in the proportion seeing a psychiatrist, social worker and a mental health nurse. Attendance at emergency departments was substantially lower than at baseline. The mean total service cost was £818 at base line and £414 at 3 months.Conclusions: The adapted version of the CSRI demonstrates that patients seen by the Pathway Homelessness Team were supported to use community and scheduled health and care services. The service overcomes barriers, frequently experienced by people experiencing homelessness, in accessing support and community healthcare in the UK.

Stressed spaces: mental health and architecture

OBJECTIVE

To present a comprehensive review of the research literature on the effects of the architectural designs of mental health facilities on the users.

BACKGROUND

Using a team of cross-disciplinary researchers, this review builds upon previous reviews on general and geriatric healthcare design in order to focus on research undertaken for mental health care facility design.

METHODS

Sources were gathered in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 a broad search was undertaken across health and architecture; in 2011, using keywords and 13 databases, researchers conducted a systematic search of peer reviewed literature addressing mental health care and architectural design published between 2005 to 2012, as well as a systematic search for academic theses for the period 2000 to 2012. Recurrent themes and subthemes were identified and numerical data that emerged from quantitative studies was tabulated.

RESULTS

Key themes that emerged were nursing stations, light, therapeutic milieu, security, privacy, designing for the adolescent, forensic facilities, interior detail, patients' rooms, art, dementia, model of care, gardens, post-occupancy evaluation, and user engagement in design process. Of the 165 articles (including conference proceedings, books, and theses), 25 contained numerical data from empirical studies and 7 were review articles.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the review results, especially the growing evidence of the benefits of therapeutic design on patient and staff well-being and client length of stay, additional research questions are suggested concerning optimal design considerations, designs to be avoided, and the involvement of major stakeholders in the design process.

KEYWORDS

Evidence-based design, hospital, interdisciplinary, literature review, post-occupancy.

Developing and testing an intervention to prevent homelessness among individuals discharged from psychiatric wards to shelters and 'No Fixed Address'

Shelter data in a recent study revealed discharges from psychiatric facilities to shelters or the street occurred at least 194 times in 2002 in London, Ontario, Canada. This problem must be addressed to reduce the disastrous effects of such discharge, including re-hospitalization and prolonged homelessness. An intervention was developed and tested to prevent homelessness associated with discharge directly to no fixed address. A total of 14 participants at-risk of being discharged without housing were enrolled, with half randomized into the intervention group. The intervention group was provided with immediate assistance in accessing housing and assistance in paying their first and last month's rent. The control group received usual care. Data was collected from participants prior to discharge, at 31 and 6-months post-discharge. All the individuals in the intervention group maintained housing after 3 and 6 months. All but one individual in the control group remained homeless after 3 and 6 months. The exception joined the sex trade to avoid homelessness. The results of this pilot were so dramatic that randomizing to the control group was discontinued. Discussions are underway to routinely implement the intervention. Systemic improvements can prevent homelessness for individuals being discharged from psychiatric wards.

Using electronic patient records in mental health care to capture housing and homelessness information of psychiatric consumers

Homelessness among people with psychiatric illness is at an all time high. Many explanations for this phenomenon exist, including the incidence of discharge from inpatient hospital directly into the streets or shelter system. With little known about this unseen social issue afflicting many mental health consumers, this manuscript provides recommendations for using electronic patient records (EPR) as a conduit to capture housing and homelessness related information. With the increased use of EPRs in the Canadian health care system, the research and clinical benefits of this technology have only recently begun to be realized in mental health care.