Self-esteem in patients who have recovered from psychosis: profile and relationship to quality of life.
BACKGROUND
New developments in pharmacotherapy are likely to improve substantially the symptomatic recovery from psychosis but low self-esteem may compromise quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the profile and correlates of self-esteem in individuals who have achieved symptomatic recovery from psychosis and determine its relationship with quality of life.


METHODS
Sixty-one individuals who had been free of psychotic symptoms for 6 months were selected during a community-based epidemiological survey of psychoses. Participants were evaluated for subjective assessment of self-esteem using a self-report questionnaire, for clinical and antecedent features of illness, and for quality of life.


RESULTS
Forty-three percent had scores in the range indicative of low self-esteem on the questionnaire. Level of self-esteem was unrelated to gender, employment status, the type of psychotic disorder, course of disorder or premorbid social adjustment. Depression was associated with reduced levels of self-esteem. However, independent of depression and other confounding variables, a low level of self-esteem was a risk factor for impaired quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-esteem is often low among persons who have achieved symptomatic recovery from psychosis, is associated with depression and is a predictor of quality of life.
Gureje
Oye
O
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibandan, Nigeria.
Harvey
Carol
C
Herrman
Helen
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires