Residential mobility among individuals with severe mental illness: cohort study of UK700 participants

There is limited research concerning residential mobility among people with severe mental illness.

To investigate residential mobility over 2 years among participants in the UK700 trial of intensive case management in severe mental illness.

Cohort study.

Over 60% of participants had recently wanted to move or improve their accommodation but this was not associated with mobility. Mobility was strongly associated with younger age and drug and alcohol misuse and weakly associated with being unmarried and needs relating to a benefit claim. Among those likely to have been living in supported housing, mobility was also associated with being able to look after the home. Among those living independently, mobility was also associated with being an inpatient at randomisation.

Wanting to move did not predict mobility. This contrasts with findings in the general population. Several of the associations found are possibly due to forced mobility. The association with younger age is likely to represent voluntary mobility as in the general population.

Future studies of residential mobility in severe mental illness should make use of a wider range of methods and should draw on the general population literature.