Measuring quality of life in first-episode psychosis.
Quality of life (QoL) measures are increasingly recognized as necessary parts of outcome assessments in psychosis. The present paper is a comprehensive study of patients with first-episode psychosis where QoL is measured by the commonly used Lehman Quality of Life Interview (L-QoLI). The aim is to examine if the L-QoLI maintain its original structure when used in a group of patients with first-episode psychosis, and to investigate what determines global subjective QoL with a specific emphasis on premorbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and clinical symptoms. The study indicates that the psychometric properties of the L-QoLI do not change significantly when used in first-episode samples. The patients report subjective and objective QoL in the fair to good range, with only a moderate association between the objective and subjective measures. Poor global satisfaction is predicted by being single, abusing drugs, being depressed, having a diagnosis of psychotic affective disorder, having poor premorbid social adjustment and DUP over 10 weeks. The study supports the notion that patients with first-episode psychosis construct QoL in the same way as other groups, and that longer durations of compromised function at this stage produces poor satisfaction with life rather than a downward readjustment of expectations.
Melle
I
I
Department of Research and Education, Division of Psychiatry, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. ingrid.melle@medisin.uio.no
Friis
S
S
Haahr
U
U
Johannesen
J O
JO
Larsen
T K
TK
Opjordsmoen
S
S
Roessberg
J I
JI
Rund
B R
BR
Simonsen
E
E
Vaglum
P
P
McGlashan
T
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires