Side-effects of antipsychotic medication and health-related quality of life in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
This analysis used data from the large (n = 1208) European Schizophrenia Cohort to examine the association between subjective side-effects of antipsychotic medication and the Mental and Physical Composite Scores (MCS; PCS) of the SF-36 scale.


METHODS
Relationships between the subjective evaluation of side-effects identified from the Subjective Side-Effects Scale and the adjusted mean score on the PCS and MCS were examined. Where appropriate, these associations of subjective side-effects were compared with those of the same side-effects measured objectively.


RESULTS
In this study, subjective side-effects of antipsychotic medication were linked either to both the PCS and the MCS or, in a few instances, to neither. Subjective evaluations of sexual side-effects were associated only with the MCS, those of sialorrhoea only with the PCS. Objective ratings of extrapyramidal side-effects were related neither to PCS nor to MCS.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that side-effects, whether subjective or objective, may need to be considered individually in relation to their impact on quality of life.
Bebbington
P E
PE
Department of Mental Health Sciences, UCL, London, UK. p.bebbington@ucl.ac.uk
Angermeyer
M
M
Azorin
J-M
JM
Marwaha
S
S
Marteau
F
F
Toumi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists