Long-term homelessness in men with a psychosis: Limitation of services.

A proportion of persistently homeless men with psychosis are unable to function in the community, despite intensive outreach. The present study aimed to (i) develop a method to measure the number of homeless clients with a psychosis who are unable to maintain basic levels of function, despite the application of intensive community treatment; and (ii) determine if the proportion of these men had increased in an Australian inner urban setting over a 5-year period. Criteria were developed and validated to define this group.

Are Australian men with psychosis spending more time homeless?

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if homeless men with psychosis using emergency accommodation services are spending more time homeless.

Method: A 12-month accommodation history was collected from all men with psychosis referred to mental health services using two emergency accommodation services in inner Melbourne over a 5-year period.

Results: Of the 241 men referred with psychosis, 200 (81%) were able to provide a full accommodation history.

Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty: a new look at an old procedure: a case report.

There has been little change in the technical approach to balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) over the last two decades. Large-caliber sheaths and extra-stiff wires have been used routinely to accommodate the large balloons used for this purpose. Consequently the morbidity (and possibly mortality) rates have been high.

Chronic mental illness and community treatment resistance.

Objectives: The movement from institutional to community care has been a key component of national mental health reform in Australia. In Victoria, where a model of community care has been fully implemented, a specialized forensic hospital is the sole remaining stand-alone psychiatric inpatient facility and access to long-term inpatient beds is severely limited. Clinical experience suggests that some high-needs patients are not well serviced by this structure.

Development of an inner urban homeless mental health service.

Objectives: The aim is to describe the development, principles and practices of the Waratah Area Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service (WAHOPS) and place these in the context of international developments in homeless psychiatric services.

Methods: Information on the development of the service was collected from current and past staff. Reference is made to the relevant literature.

Accommodation history and continuity of care in patients with psychosis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between accommodation history and management outcome in patients with psychosis.

Method: Demographic information, diagnosis and an accommodation history were taken from patients with psychosis accepted for case management by the Inner West Area Mental Health Service over a 12-month period. The patients were followed up 2 years later to determine their continuity of care and discharge outcome.