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The Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule: test-retest analyses
Carol S North1, Karin M Eyrich, David E Pollio
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA. northc@psychiatry.wustl.edu
International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
|August 7, 2004
Summary
This study developed a reliable self-report instrument for measuring residential history in homeless individuals, including those with substance abuse issues. The findings show good reliability for most items, aiding future research in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Homeless populations often exhibit high rates of substance abuse and mental illness.
- Accurate residential history is crucial for understanding health and social service needs.
- Previous instruments may lack reliability in these specific populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability of the Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS/HS) for self-reported residential history.
- To evaluate the instrument's usability in a population with high rates of drug abuse.
- To refine the instrument for improved data collection on homelessness experiences.
Main Methods:
- A test-retest study design was employed.
- Participants were recruited from a mental health drop-in center and a substance abuse program.
- The DIS/HS was administered to 55 homeless volunteers with a 1-2 day interval; reliability was assessed using Kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients.
Main Results:
- Most variables demonstrated acceptable to excellent reliability (fair to excellent range).
- Six items were revised, and two were removed to enhance reliability.
- Substance dependence and antisocial behavior did not significantly impact the reliability of most items.
Conclusions:
- The revised DIS/HS is a reliable instrument for assessing residential history in homeless and drug-abusing populations.
- The instrument can aid in collecting accurate data on homelessness experiences.
- Further validation in larger, diverse samples is recommended.