Quality of life in schizophrenia: the impact of psychopathology, attitude toward medication, and side effects.
BACKGROUND
Quality of life (QOL) is now seen as a key outcome variable in schizophrenia. Factors deemed relevant in this context include severity of symptoms, antipsychotic-induced side effects, sociodemographic variables, and patients' subjective response to medication.


METHODS
In the current cross-sectional study, 80 patients with a schizophrenic disorder according to ICD-10 criteria who had a duration of illness over 1 year and whose discharge from an inpatient unit had been at least 6 weeks earlier were investigated. Apart from the registration of demographic data, various rating scales were used: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the St. Hans Rating Scale for Extrapy-ramidal Syndromes, the UKU Side Effect Rating Scale, the Drug Attitude Inventory, and the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile.


RESULTS
More than half of all patients (47/80) indicated that they were satisfied with their life in general. The specific areas of subjective dissatisfaction that were most commonly noted in the present sample concerned partnership and mental health. The depression/anxiety component of the PANSS, parkinsonism, and a negative attitude toward antipsychotic medication negatively influenced the patients' QOL, while cognitive symptoms and employment status correlated with higher QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results highlight the importance of recognizing the complex nature of QOL in schizophrenia patients. They suggest that special attention should be paid to patients who experience anxiety and depressive symptoms or parkinsonism, to those who are unemployed, and to those with negative feelings and attitudes toward antipsychotics.
Department of Biological Psychiatry, Innsbruck University Clinics, Innsbruck, Austria. a.hofer@uibk.ac.at
Alex
A
Hofer
Georg
G
Kemmler
Ursula
U
Eder
Monika
M
Edlinger
Martina
M
Hummer
W Wolfgang
WW
Fleischhacker
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents