title: Quality of life in schizophrenia measured by the MOS SF-36 and the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile: a comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare two Quality of Life (QoL) instruments on reliability, feasibility and conceptual overlap in a group of schizophrenic out-patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQoLP) and the MOS SF-36 were used to assess the QoL of 143 schizophrenic out-patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feasibility and reliability for both instruments were satisfying. Second order factor analysis on 10 LQoLP and eight MOS SF-36 scales resulted in three factors: one health related QoL factor and two general QoL factors; an internal and an external factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QoL measures in schizophrenia studies are not exchangeable. Validity of a specific QoL instrument depends upon the purpose of the study. The LQoLP allows suggestions for specific improvements in mental health care for long-term psychiatric patients. The SF-36 is a good choice when comparison with other patient groups on health related QoL is relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schene
authors.forename: M W J
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Koeter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires