The quality of life among first-episode psychotic patients in the OPUS trial.
BACKGROUND
From an 'objective' perspective, treatment of first-episode psychosis has improved in many ways with the development of specialised early and intensive team-based treatment like e.g. the 'OPUS' treatment. However, the patients' perspective is also important and was investigated in the 'OPUS' study by analysing data concerning quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the 'quality of life from patients' perspective' among a cohort of young adults with a first-episode psychosis at the time of treatment initiation and after two years. Especially, we were interested in analysing if there were any significant effects on the subjective quality of life of receiving an intensive psychosocial assertive community treatment called 'OPUS' compared to standard treatment (ST).


METHODS
This study is part of the Danish 'OPUS' trial, a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing 'treatment as usual' (standard treatment, ST) with 'OPUS' treatment. The Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQoLP), which is a combined objective and subjective instrument, was administered at baseline and after two years of treatment, N=280.


RESULTS
The intensive 'OPUS' treatment did not affect the quality of life measured by Lancashire QoLP in a significantly different way from the standard treatment (ST). There were no significant differences in quality of life between the ST group and the OPUS group concerning the 9 life domains. Quality of life correlated with psychopathology (both psychotic and negative symptoms) to a minor extent and more strongly with the affective balance and level of self-esteem.
Thorup
Anne
A
Bispebjerg Hospital, Psychiatric Department, Denmark. atv@dadlnet.dk
Petersen
Lone
L
Jeppesen
Pia
P
Nordentoft
Merete
M
D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult