Quality of life and psychopathology: investigations into their relationship.
OBJECTIVE
Quality of life (QOL) has become a topic of growing interest in medical and psychiatric practice in general, and in research in particular. Although the body of knowledge about the complex relationship between QOL and psychiatric disorders is growing, understanding this relationship still remains difficult. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to get more and new insights into this relationship. It was hypothesized that QOL would be negatively related to the presence as well as the severity of psychopathology.


METHODS
A random sample of Dutch adult psychiatric outpatients (n=410) completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-Bref). In addition, DSM-IV axis I and II diagnoses were obtained. Comparisons were made between scores of the psychiatric outpatients, diagnostic subgroups within this population, and the scores of a general population.


RESULTS
Compared with the general population, psychiatric outpatients scored significantly worse on all aspects of QOL. Within the group of outpatients, participants with DSM-IV diagnoses had worse scores than those without. Participants with comorbidity had the worst QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that QOL scores are negatively related to both the presence and the severity of psychopathology, and that the presence of a personality disorder plays a role in subjectively experienced QOL.
Masthoff
Erik D
ED
Forensisch Psychiatrische Dienst, Ministerie van Justitie, Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. e.masthoff@dji.minjus.nl
Trompenaars
Fons J
FJ
Van Heck
Guus L
GL
Hodiamont
Paul P
PP
De Vries
Jolanda
J
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization