Does Homelessness Increase the Risk of Readmission in Acute Care Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia

This thesis attempts to answer a research question: Does homelessness contribute to the readmission of acute psychiatric admission with those diagnosed with schizophrenia? A quantitative, retrospective study was conducted using a sample of one hundred and thirty-six patients who were admitted to an acute care hospital in Texas between the dates of January 01, 2015 through December 31, 2016. Data were collected from existing patient records of an acute care hospital located in Texas. The results show that homelessness was a significant predictor in treatment readmission. More specifically, homelessness was a contributing factor of readmission due to being suicidal. It is recommended that acute schizophrenia clinics should pay attention to special needs of homeless patients. Collaboration between the clinics, group homes, and community is also recommended. Considering the limitations of this study, further study needs to verify its findings