Residential mobility of individuals with diagnosed schizophrenia: a comparison of single and multiple movers

Several studies have compared the residential mobility of individuals with schizophrenia to mobility of individuals with other mental disorders or with no mental disorders. Little research has been undertaken to describe differences between single (i.e., infrequent) and multiple (i.e., frequent) movers with schizophrenia, and the association between frequency of mobility and health and health service use.

The data source is population-based administrative records from the province of Manitoba, Canada. Hospital separations and physicians claims are linked to health registration files to identify a cohort with diagnosed schizophrenia and track changes in residential postal code over time. Single movers (N = 736), who had only one postal code change in a 2.5-year observation period, are compared to multiple movers (N = 252), who had two or more postal code changes. Differences in demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic characteristics, measures of health service use, and the prevalence of several chronic diseases were examined using chi(2) tests, logistic regression, and generalized linear regression.

Multiple movers were significantly more likely to be young, live in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and reside in the urban core. The prevalence of a co-occurring substance use disorder and arthritis was higher for multiple than single movers. Use of acute and ambulatory care for schizophrenia, other mental disorders, as well as physical disorders was generally higher for multiple than single movers.

Frequency of mobility should be considered in the development of needs-based funding plans and service delivery interventions. Other opportunities to use record-linkage techniques to examine residential mobility are considered.