Abstract
Primary objective
The main aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of traumatic brain injuryin a sample of homeless individuals.
Research design
The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey design and contacted 12 organizations providing services for homeless individuals across a city in the UK.
Methods and procedures
The sample included 100 homeless participants (75 males and 25 females) who met the inclusion criteria. A matched control group (n = 100) of individuals who were not homeless was also recruited. A questionnaire was administered to all participants to elicit information relating to history of possible traumatic brain injury.
Main outcomes and results
Results indicated that a significantly higher number of homeless participants (48%) reported a history of traumatic brain injury than control participants (21%). Of those homeless participants, 90% indicated they had sustained their first traumatic brain injury before they were homeless.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that rates of traumatic brain injury are much higher among the homeless population than in the general population and that sustaining a traumatic brain injury may be a risk factor for homelessness.