Assessing health-related quality of life in patients suffering from schizophrenia: a comparison of instruments.
OBJECTIVE
To compare three different kinds of health-related quality of life (HRQL) questionnaires available for use in patients suffering from schizophrenia: the SF-36 (a generic instrument), the QoLI (an instrument designed to a broad range of mental illnesses), the S-QoL (a questionnaire specific to schizophrenic patients), in terms of external validity and sensitivity to change.


METHODS
Two hundred and five patients were included at D0 and one-third retested at D30. Socio-demographic data and clinical history were recorded, clinical evaluation comprised psychotic symptoms (PANSS), depression (Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia), global functioning (GAF), clinical severity (CGI), and extrapyramidal symptoms (ESRS). HRQL was assessed using the SF-36, the QoLI and the S-QoL.


RESULTS
A better agreement is observed between the SF-36 and the S-QoL than between the QoLI and the two other instruments. S-QoL and SF-36 are more strongly correlated with clinical status than QoLI. Compared to the SF-36 and the QoLI, the S-QoL better discriminates patients with comorbidity from others. The S-QoL shows better responsiveness than the QoLI and the SF-36.


CONCLUSIONS
For descriptive purpose, either generic tools like SF-36 or specific ones should be used, whereas when aiming at evaluating health treatment and care for schizophrenic patients, specific instruments like the S-QoL should be favoured.
Reine
Gilles
G
Department of Psychiatry 83 G04, Pavillon Arthur Rimbaud, La Seyne sur Mer hospital, BP 1412, 83056 Toulon cedex, France. Gilles.Reine@ch-toulon.fr
Simeoni
Marie-Claude
MC
Auquier
Pascal
P
Loundou
Anderson
A
Aghababian
Valérie
V
Lancon
Christophe
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors