title: Quality of life in depression: an important outcome measure in an outpatient cognitive-behavioural therapy group programme?
abstract: Studies have shown that psychiatric patients have significantly impaired quality of life (QOL) in comparison to community samples who are not suffering a mental illness. Despite an increase in research in the mental health field, there still remains little consensus as to the merit of using such questionnaires within a mental health population. There is a concern that QOL is redundant with affective state and symptomatology. We investigated the usefulness of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-short form (QLESQ-SF) in a depressed outpatient sample receiving time-limited, standardized group cognitive-behavioural therapy. QLESQ-SF ratings were examined at admission and 10-week endpoint in an intention-to-treat (N = 212) and completers (N = 164) sample. QLESQ-SF ratings and symptom ratings (Beck Depression Inventory-II; Beck Anxiety Inventory) improved significantly over time. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, although affective state and change in symptomatology were significantly correlated with QOL and change in QOL, a large proportion of variance was unexplained. These results are inconsistent with the theory of measurement redundancy. QOL appears to be a useful measure that provides additional treatment outcome information distinct from affective state and symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Interventions, WA, Australia 6003. amanda.swan@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: Hunna J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Nathan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence