Self-report quality of life measure for people with schizophrenia: the SQLS.
BACKGROUND
Quality of life is the subject of growing interest and investigation.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate a short, self-report quality of life questionnaire (the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale, SQLS).


METHODS
People with schizophrenia in Liverpool were recruited via the NHS. Items, generated from in-depth interviews, were developed into an 80-item self-report questionnaire. Data were factor analysed, and a shorter form measure was tested for reliability and validity. This measure was administered together with other self-report measures--SF-36, GHQ-12 and HADS--to assess validity.


RESULTS
Data were analysed to produce a final 30-item questionnaire, comprising three scales ('psychosocial', 'motivation and energy', and 'symptoms and side-effects') addressing different SQLS dimensions. Internal consistency reliability of the scale was found to be satisfactory. There was a high level of association with relevant SF-36, GHQ-12 and HADS scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The SQLS was completed within 5-10 minutes. It possesses internal reliability and construct validity, and promises to be a useful tool for the evaluation of new treatment regimes for people with schizophrenia.
Wilkinson
G
G
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Hesdon
B
B
Wild
D
D
Cookson
R
R
Farina
C
C
Sharma
V
V
Fitzpatrick
R
R
Jenkinson
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*