Psychiatric Disorders and Treatment Among Newly Homeless Young Adults With Histories of Foster Care

Abstract

Objective While foster care placement is often preceded by stressful events such as childhood abuse, foster care itself often exposes children to additional severe stressors. A history of foster care, as well as the childhood abuse that often precedes it, is common among homeless young adults. However, whether a history of foster care elevates the likelihood of psychiatric disorders and treatment among homeless young adults, after adjustment for childhood abuse, is unknown. This study examined whether a history of foster care was associated with psychiatric disorders, prior psychiatric counseling, prescription of psychiatric medications, and prior psychiatric hospitalization among newly homeless young adults, controlling for childhood abuse and other covariates. Methods Among a consecutive sample of 424 newly homeless young adults (18 to 21 years) in a crisis shelter, logistic regression analyses determined the associations between foster care and any psychiatric disorder (affective, anxiety, personality, psychotic) and psychiatric treatment, adjusted for demographics, childhood abuse, substance abuse, prior arrest, unemployment, lack of high school diploma, and histories of psychiatric disorders and drug abuse among biological relatives. Results Homeless young adults with histories of foster care were 70% more likely to report any psychiatric disorder (AOR=1.70) and twice as likely to have received mental health counseling for a psychiatric disorder (AOR=2.17), been prescribed psychiatric medication (AOR=2.26), and been hospitalized for psychiatric problems (AOR=2.15) than those without such histories. Conclusions Histories of foster care should trigger screening for psychiatric disorders among homeless young adults to aid in the provision of treatment (counseling, medication, hospitalization) tailored to their psychiatric needs.

Personality disorders and treatment drop out in the homeless

“…Homeless people had great physical deterioration but also and mainly, mental deterioration,47 with pathologies, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder being present 24,35,38,48–51. Likewise, the data corresponds with previous studies with similar characteristics 2,15,23,25,52–54…”

Regulatory skill as a resilience factor for adults with a history of foster care: A pilot study

“…A history of FC is associated with increased risk for mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Bruskas, 2008; Jackson, O'Brien, & Pecora, 2011; Lawrence, Carlson, & Egeland, 2006; Neely-Barnes & Whitted, 2011; Rusby & Tasker, 2009; Thompson & Hasid, 2012). Much research examining individuals with a history of FC has been performed during childhood and has shown that children with FC experiences exhibit heightened anxiety and associated internalizing problems (Damnjanovic, Lakic, Stevanovic, & Jovanovic, 2011; Dozier et al, 2002; Fisher, Gunnar, Dozier, Bruce, & Pears, 2006; Sawyer, Carbone, Searle, & Robinson, 2007; Wiik et al, 2011).…”

Comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with personality disorders in homeless people

“…Symptoms of ADHD in childhood are consistent with those showed by homeless people, who display social, emotional and personal instabilities which influence both their diagnosis and prognosis. Moreover, the prevalence of organic and mental disorders is much higher in this population than in the population at large [ 18 , 19 ]. In spite of this, the presentation of ADHD in childhood and adulthood in the homeless population has not been extensively studied, and this may affect its prognosis.…”