Patterns of psychiatric service use by homeless mentally ill clients

The objective of this study was to describe the patterns of service use of homeless mentally ill clients prior to and for two years following an admission to Skid Row Mental Health (SRMH) services in Los Angeles during a recent year (N = 268). Twenty clients were still at SRMH two years later. These clients were older and more likely to be female; most of their prior service use was at SRMH. For the majority of the 124 clients in the second group, those who had been discharged and not readmitted, the index admission was their only admission. The 124 clients in the third group, these with admissions after the index admission, had long histories in the system. Cluster analysis showed distinct patterns in service use during the follow-up period. Knowledge of patterns of service use by homeless mentally ill persons will enhance understanding of interventions which have the greatest chance of success.