title: Subjective and objective quality of life in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quality of life (QOL) is considered an important outcome in the treatment of schizophrenia, but the determinants of QOL are poorly understood in this population. Furthermore, previous studies have relied on combined measures of subjective QOL (usually defined as life satisfaction) and objective QOL (usually defined as participation in activities and relationships). We examined separately the clinical, functional, and cognitive predictors of subjective and objective QOL in outpatients with schizophrenia. We hypothesized that better subjective QOL would be associated with less severe negative and depressive symptoms, better objective QOL, and greater everyday functioning capacity, and that better objective QOL would be associated with less severe negative and depressive symptoms, better cognitive performance, and greater functional capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 88 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who completed a comprehensive series of assessments, including measures of positive, negative, and depressive symptoms; performance-based functional skills; a neuropsychological battery; and an interview measure of subjective and objective QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the context of multiple predictor variables, more severe depressive symptoms and better neuropsychological functioning were independent predictors of worse subjective QOL. More severe negative symptoms predicted worse objective QOL. Functional capacity variables were not associated with subjective or objective QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatments to improve QOL in schizophrenia should focus on negative symptoms and depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive (0851), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Jenille M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Narvaez
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Twamley
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: McKibbin
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support