Caring for homeless persons with serious mental illness in general hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The care of homeless persons with serious mental illness remains a common and challenging problem in general hospital settings. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to review data on homelessness and its psychiatric comorbidities, and to expand the skills of providers who encounter homeless individuals in general hospital settings. RESULTS: Literature review reveals patient, provider, and systems factors that contribute to suboptimal health outcomes in homeless individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic rigor, integrated medical and psychiatric care, trauma-informed interventions, special considerations in capacity evaluations, and health care reform initiatives can improve the treatment of homeless persons with serious mental illness.