[Evaluation of the quality of life of schizophrenic patients: validation of the brief version of the Quality of Life Interview].
The main objective of the study was to determine the psychometric properties (mainly, validity and reliability) of the French language version of the brief Quality of Life Interview (QoLI). That instrument evaluates both the subjective and objective aspects of quality of life.


METHODS
128 patients fulfilling the DSM IV criteria for schizophrenia were included. Quality of life was evaluated using the brief QoLI. Schizophrenic symptoms were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The validity of the internal structure of the QoLI was investigated by means of item analysis, study of the correlations between the items and between the item-dimensions and principal component analysis addressing the subjective fields. The validity of the external structure was mainly investigated through the nomological validity study. The reliability of the scale was evaluated by studying the internal consistency. In addition, the acceptability of the scale was documented.


RESULTS
The results of the study of the validity of the internal structure confirmed the pertinence of the pre-defined fields, particularly the subjective fields. Only some of the subjective fields of the QoLI showed significant correlations with the PANSS sub-scales. The acceptability of the scale was satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychometric properties of the French language version of the brief QoLI appeared satisfactory. The brief QoLi was shown to be an easily used instrument for assessment of the various objective and subjective aspects of the quality of life of schizophrenic patients.
Lancon
C
C
SHU de Psychiatrie d'Adultes, CHU Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille.
Auquier
P
P
Launois
R
R
Toumi
M
M
Llorca
P M
PM
Bebbington
P
P
Lehman
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile