[Housing Situation Among People with Substance Use Disorder in a Psychiatric Centre in Berlin, Germany - A Cross-Sectional Patient Survey].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the housing situation, service use and substance use among patients with substance use disorders seeking psychiatric treatment.

METHODS

Structured interview among 540 psychiatric inpatients including day clinics in a psychiatric centre in Berlin, Germany.

RESULTS

Patients under instable housing conditions were significantly more often diagnosed with a comorbid psychotic disorder and were significantly younger when first psychiatric or substance use treatment occurred, on average before onset of homelessness.

CONCLUSION

Homelessness among people with substance use disorder seeking psychiatric treatment is associated with disadvantageous treatment factors such as early age of psychiatric treatment and comorbid psychotic disorders. Therefore, addressing social difficulties especially after inpatient treatment and close cooperation between different care providers should be of high importance among these groups.