Table 2

Comparisons of mental disorders and physical illness between participants who reported childhood learning problems or disability (LD-Yes; n=133) and those who did not (LD-No; n=364).†

VariableTotal sampleLD-NoLD-Yesp Value
N (%)N (%)N (%)
Mental disorders (past month)
 Major depressive episode199 (40)134 (37)65 (49)0.015*
 Manic or hypomanic episode97 (20)64 (18)33 (25)0.072**
 Post-traumatic stress disorder129 (26)88 (24)41 (31)0.122
 Panic disorder104 (21)64 (18)40 (30)0.002*
 Mood disorder with psychotic features84 (17)57 (16)27 (20)0.208
 Psychotic disorder263 (53)200 (55)63 (47)0.134
 Alcohol dependence121 (24)79 (22)42 (32)0.023*
 Substance dependence288 (58)205 (56)83 (62)0.224
 Two or more mental disorders240 (48)158 (43)82 (62)<0.001***
 High suicidality87 (18)54 (15)33 (25)0.010**
 Less severe cluster264 (53)176 (48)88 (66)<0.001***
 Severe cluster363 (73)267 (73)96 (72)0.794
Physical health
 Migraine157 (32)94 (26)63 (48)<0.001***
 Epilepsy or seizures67 (14)40 (11)27 (21)0.006*
 Blood-borne infectious diseases157 (32)103 (29)54 (41)0.008*
 Head injury270 (56)179 (51)91 (71)<0.001***
 Two or more physical conditions402 (81)287 (78.8)115 (86)0.056**
  • *p≤0.05

  • ** p≤0.10

  • ***p≤0.001

  • †Each multivariable model was controlled for age (continuous), age of first homelessness (continuous), gender, ethnicity (Aboriginals, Caucasian, other), marital status (Single vs other) and language spoken in childhood home (English vs other).