Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
Published on: November 30, 2015
Prevalence of mental illness in homeless men in Munich, Germany: results from a representative sample
1Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Germany.
Objective:
The aim of the study was a reliable assessment of the prevalence of DSM-IV mental disorders in a representative sample of homeless men in the city of Munich.
Method:
A preliminary survey yielded an estimate of 1,022 single homeless men in Munich divided among three sectors (shelter users, service users and street dwellers). A random sample of 265 single homeless men was surveyed from these three sectors. An age-matched comparison group of 178 men was selected randomly from a community register. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV) was used for diagnostic classification.
Results:
The lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders were as follows: 72.7% vs. 15.2% for alcohol dependence, 32.8% vs. 7.3% for mood disorders, 15.9% vs. 6.2% for anxiety disorders and 9.8% vs. 0.6% for psychotic disorders. Of the homeless males in Munich, 93.2% had at least one lifetime DSM-IV axis I diagnosis, while this was the case for only 38.2% of the community controls. One-month prevalence for all SCID DSM-IV axis I disorders in homeless males was 73.4%.
Conclusion:
Lifetime DSM-IV axis I mental disorders were 2.4 times more frequent among homeless individuals compared to community control. Implications for health care planning are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Schizophrenia
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Stereotype Content Model
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Amebiasis