Brain Injury in Persons With Serious Mental Illness Who Have a History of Chronic Homelessness: Could This Impact How Services Are Delivered?

Clinicians completed interviews using the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method (TBI-ID) and sections of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-Lite) with clients who were homeless and receiving community mental health services. Fifty-six percent of clients screened positive for TBI. Clients with a history of TBI were more likely to be using multiple substances, and were more likely to have, and be bothered by, family and emotional problems than clients without TBI. Homeless clients receiving mental health services may have undiagnosed TBI that could affect their ability to benefit from treatment. Such clients may require services that compensate for their cognitive deficits.

Les cliniciens interviewent les clients itinérants recevant des services communautaires en santé mentale avec le Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI-ID) et des sections du Addiction Severity Index (ASI-Lite). Un traumatisme crânio-cérébral (TCC) est dépisté positivement chez 56% des clients. Ceux ayant un antécédent de TCC sont plus susceptibles de consommer plusieurs substances et d’être sujets et affectés par des problèmes familiaux et émotionnels que ceux sans TCC. Les clients itinérants recevant des services de santé mentale peuvent avoir un TCC non diagnostiqué qui affecte leur réponse au traitement. Ils pourraient nécessiter de services compensant pour leurs déficits cognitifs.