Correlates of Homelessness Among Adults with Personality Disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Public Health
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Personality disorders (PDs) are more prevalent in homeless populations than the general population.
• Limited research exists on the risk factors for homelessness among individuals with PDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral health correlates of past-year homelessness.
• To examine these correlates specifically within individuals diagnosed with antisocial PD (ASPD), borderline PD (BPD), and schizotypal PD.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nationally representative data from the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population.
• Employed descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate logistic regression models.
• Focused on identifying predictors associated with past-year homelessness status.

Main Results:

• Poverty, relationship dysfunction, and a history of suicide attempts were significantly associated with homelessness.
• Comorbid ASPD was linked to increased odds of homelessness in the BPD model, and vice versa.
• Behavioral health comorbidities, poverty, and interpersonal difficulties emerged as key correlates.

Conclusions:

• Highlights the critical roles of economic instability, interpersonal challenges, and co-occurring mental health conditions in homelessness among individuals with ASPD, BPD, and schizotypal PD.
• Suggests that interventions promoting economic security, stable relationships, and improved interpersonal functioning could mitigate homelessness risk.