Training in Social Epidemiology Methods in Research on Homeless Mental Health

描述（由申请人提供）：总体目标是培训申请人掌握社会流行病学的方法，使他能够在心理健康服务和无家可归预防方面进行最先进的研究。作为研究健康社会决定因素的流行病学分支，候选人将(1)学习流行病学方法和统计技术，以研究与患有严重和持续性精神疾病的人无家可归风险相关的社会风险和保护因素，以及长期无家可归者的精神疾病的过程和结果。具体而言，候选人将(2)研究不同类型的社会经历，如社会排斥、社会不平等和社会支持如何影响和改变无家可归人群对精神疾病的暴露、抵抗力、持久性、易感性和结果。作为这项研究培训计划的一部分，候选人将在哥伦比亚大学梅尔曼公共卫生学院的无家可归者预防研究中心（CHPS）工作，这是一个由nimh资助的高级干预和服务研究中心。在该中心主要研究核心的联合主任Daniel Herman博士的指导下，候选人将分析一项随机试验的数据，该试验测试了关键时间干预（CTI）对患有严重精神疾病的男性和女性的有效性，该干预旨在防止从精神病住院到社区生活过渡期间复发的无家可归（CTI在从医院到社区的过渡，R01 MH 059716-05）。具体而言，候选人将研究家庭社会支持、心理健康服务的连续性和住房状况之间的关系。候选人将(3)与教师和导师合作，为出版和在国家会议上的数据展示编写手稿。通过这项研究培训奖学金，申请人将通过研究长期无家可归、患有持续和严重精神疾病的人的心理健康干预措施的有效性，为公共卫生作出重大贡献。从了解社会环境和个人决定因素之间的相互作用中获得的知识可以用来提高促进个人康复的有效性，并促进更有成效的生活。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal is to train the applicant in the methods of social epidemiology to enable him to carry out state-of-the-art research in mental health services and homelessness prevention. As a branch of epidemiology that studies social determinants of health, the candidate will (1) learn epidemiological methods and statistical techniques needed to study social risk and protective factors that are associated with the risk of homelessness among persons with severe and persistent mental illness and the course and outcome of mental illness among chronically homeless persons. Specifically, the candidate will (2) study how different types of social experiences such as social exclusion, social inequality and social support can impact and alter exposure, resistance, persistence, susceptibility and outcome of mental illness in homeless populations. As a part of this research training plan, the candidate will work at the Center for Homeless Prevention Studies (CHPS) of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, an NIMH-funded advanced center for intervention and services research. Under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Herman, co- director of the center's principal research core, the candidate will analyze data from a randomized trial testing the efficacy of a Critical Time Intervention (CTI) for men and women with severe mental illnesses designed to prevent recurrent homelessness during the transition from psychiatric hospitalization to community living (CTI in the Transition from Hospital to Community, R01 MH 059716-05). Specifically the candidate will study the relationship between family social support, continuity of mental health services, and housing status. The candidate will (3) work with faculty and mentors to develop manuscripts for publication and data presentations at national meetings. Through this research training fellowship, the applicant will contribute significantly to public health by studying the effectiveness of mental health interventions among chronically homeless individuals suffering from persistent and severe mental illness. Knowledge gained from understanding the interaction between the social environment and individual determinants can be harnessed to enhance the effectiveness of fostering individual recovery and promote a more productive life.