Homelessness - "Critical Time" intervention decreased risk
Clinical Bottom Line
A "critical time" time intervention decreased homelessness in mentally ill men.
Citation
Susser E, Valencia E, Conover S, et al. Preventing recurrent homelessness among mentally ill men: a 'critical time' intervention after discharge from a shelter. Am J Public Health 1997 Feb; 87: 256-62.
Clinical Question
In a mentally ill homeless person, does a "critical time" intervention prevent extended homelessness?
Search Terms
"homelessness" in Evidence-Based Mental Health
The Study
Randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat analysis. Patients discharged from an on-site psychiatry programme in a New York City men's shelter
Control Group:
(N = 48; 48 analysed): usual services only
Experimental Group:
(N = 48; 48 analysed): "critical time" intervention - an intervention aimed at strengthening an individual's ties to services, family and friends and providing emotional and practical support during transition from hostel to alternative accommodation.
The Evidence
| Outcome | Time to Outcome | CER | EER | RRR | ARR | NNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extended homelessness (>54 days) | 18 months | 0.40 | 0.21 | 0.47 | 0.19 | 5 |
| 95% Confidence Intervals: | 1 to 73 | 3 to 100 | ||||
| Control mean | Exp mean | Difference between the means | 95% CI | |||
| Days homeless | 18 months | 91 | 30 | 61 | 19 to 105 | |
Appraised By
Geddes 1999
Expiry Date
2000