Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal 5/2014

01-07-2014 | Brief Report

Change Patterns of Homeless Individuals with Mental Illness: A Multiple Case Study

Authors: Christine A. Helfrich, Emily K. Simpson, Dara V. Chan

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 5/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

This multiple case study illuminates the individual change trajectories of four homeless men with mental illnesses who participated in a manualized life skills intervention to improve housing retention. Readiness-to-change, life skills knowledge and trauma symptoms were measured at baseline, post-intervention and at 3–6 months follow-up. Cluster analysis identified two patterns of readiness-to-change: engaged and pre-engaged. Change is non-linear and baseline readiness is not necessary to benefit from the intervention. Examining individuals’ lives in context illuminated the change process and demonstrated that varied patterns can lead to successful outcomes for housing stability and community reintegration.
Literature
go back to reference DiClemente, C. C., Schlundt, D., & Gemmell, L. (2004). Readiness and stages of change in addiction treatment. American Journal on Addictions, 13(2), 103–119.PubMedCrossRef DiClemente, C. C., Schlundt, D., & Gemmell, L. (2004). Readiness and stages of change in addiction treatment. American Journal on Addictions, 13(2), 103–119.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Finnell, D. S. (2003). Addiction services: Use of the transtheoretical model for individuals with co-occurring disorders. Community Mental Health Journal, 39(1), 3–15.PubMedCrossRef Finnell, D. S. (2003). Addiction services: Use of the transtheoretical model for individuals with co-occurring disorders. Community Mental Health Journal, 39(1), 3–15.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Helfrich, C. A., Chan, D. V., & Sabol, P. (2011a). Cognitive predictors of life skill interventions: Outcomes for adults with mental illness at risk for homelessness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(3), 277–286.PubMedCrossRef Helfrich, C. A., Chan, D. V., & Sabol, P. (2011a). Cognitive predictors of life skill interventions: Outcomes for adults with mental illness at risk for homelessness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(3), 277–286.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Helfrich, C. A., Chan, D. V., Simpson, E. K., & Sabol, P. (2011). Readiness-to-change cluster profiles among adults with mental illness who were homeless participating in a life skills intervention. Community Mental Health Journal. doi:10.1007/s10597-011-9383-z. Helfrich, C. A., Chan, D. V., Simpson, E. K., & Sabol, P. (2011). Readiness-to-change cluster profiles among adults with mental illness who were homeless participating in a life skills intervention. Community Mental Health Journal. doi:10.​1007/​s10597-011-9383-z.
go back to reference Helfrich, C. A., Peters, C. Y., & Chan, D. V. (2011c). Trauma symptoms of individuals with mental illness at risk for homelessness participating in a life skills intervention. Occupational Therapy International, 18(3), 115–123. doi:10.1002/oti.308.PubMed Helfrich, C. A., Peters, C. Y., & Chan, D. V. (2011c). Trauma symptoms of individuals with mental illness at risk for homelessness participating in a life skills intervention. Occupational Therapy International, 18(3), 115–123. doi:10.​1002/​oti.​308.PubMed
go back to reference Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Leavy, P. (2011). The practice of qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Leavy, P. (2011). The practice of qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
go back to reference McConnaughy, E. A., DiClemente, C. C., Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1989). Stages of change in psychotherapy: A follow-up report. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 26(4), 494–503. doi:10.1037/h0085468.CrossRef McConnaughy, E. A., DiClemente, C. C., Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1989). Stages of change in psychotherapy: A follow-up report. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 26(4), 494–503. doi:10.​1037/​h0085468.CrossRef
go back to reference McConnaughy, E. A., Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1983). Stages of change in psychotherapy: Measurement and sample profiles. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 20(3), 368–375. doi:10.1037/h0090198.CrossRef McConnaughy, E. A., Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1983). Stages of change in psychotherapy: Measurement and sample profiles. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 20(3), 368–375. doi:10.​1037/​h0090198.CrossRef
go back to reference Prochaska, J. O., & Norcross, J. C. (2002). Stages of change. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (pp. 303–313). New York: Oxford University Press. Prochaska, J. O., & Norcross, J. C. (2002). Stages of change. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (pp. 303–313). New York: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Rollnick, S., Miller, W. R., & Butler, C. C. (2008). Motivational interviewing in health care: Helping patients change behavior. New York: The Guilford Press. Rollnick, S., Miller, W. R., & Butler, C. C. (2008). Motivational interviewing in health care: Helping patients change behavior. New York: The Guilford Press.
go back to reference Schwarzer, R., Ziegelmann, J. P., Luszczynska, A., Scholz, U., & Lippke, S. (2008). Social-cognitive predictors of physical exercise adherence: Three longitudinal studies in rehabilitation. Health Psychology, 27(1), S54–S63.PubMedCrossRef Schwarzer, R., Ziegelmann, J. P., Luszczynska, A., Scholz, U., & Lippke, S. (2008). Social-cognitive predictors of physical exercise adherence: Three longitudinal studies in rehabilitation. Health Psychology, 27(1), S54–S63.PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2003). Blueprint for change: Ending chronic homelessness for persons with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2003). Blueprint for change: Ending chronic homelessness for persons with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
go back to reference Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Metadata
Title
Change Patterns of Homeless Individuals with Mental Illness: A Multiple Case Study
Authors
Christine A. Helfrich
Emily K. Simpson
Dara V. Chan
Publication date
01-07-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9647-x

Other articles of this Issue 5/2014

Community Mental Health Journal 5/2014 Go to the issue