Mental Disorders of Homeless in Bangkok

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research is to study the relationship between mental disorders before and after becoming homeless of homeless in Bangkok, and the relationship between psychosocial factors and changes of mental disorders’ symptoms. The in-depth interviews were conducted among 20 homeless using Mini International Neuropsychiatric (Thai version) (5.0) (M.I.N.I), including the profiles, factors of leaving homes, mental illness history, psychosocial factors, and the changes in mental disorders’ symptoms. Content analysis is used for data analysis.

The study revealed that there are 4 types of mental disorders on those homeless in Bangkok, namely major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, drug or alcohol related disorder, and psychotic disorder, while having these 5 following mental disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, drug or alcohol related disorder, and psychotic disorder, as related causes of being homeless. Having those mentioned mental disorders is the main cause of being homeless, which includes mental health problems that overlap with social structure problems, such as economic factors, family relationship problems, failure of treatments, lack of social supports and stigmas are also main factors that contribute to the psychiatric patients’ quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the community as well as the public policy. Helping psychiatric patients can start with the development of the community and helping them to understand their roles in making a changes by spreading awareness about psychiatric patients’ conditions, which may help reducing their stigmas of being insane form the society.