Socio-demographic and clinical determinants of quality of life in Chinese patients with schizophrenia: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the changes in the quality of life (QOL) of Chinese schizophrenia patients and to identify their predictors over a 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
A cohort of 116 schizophrenia patients was recruited, and their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including psychotic and depressive symptoms, drug-induced side effects, social functioning, and QOL were assessed with standardized rating instruments. The patients received standard psychiatric care and were followed up for 1 year.


RESULTS
The psychotic and depressive symptoms, extrapyramidal side effects, and QOL domains of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, social functioning, and role limitations due to emotional problems all improved significantly. Social functioning was a predictor of baseline QOL and change at 1-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine clinical management was effective in improving schizophrenia patients' psychopathology and several domains of QOL. QOL was related to the level of social functioning and had only a weak association with socio-demographic factors.
Xiang
Yu-Tao
YT
Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, 100088, Beijing, China. xyutly@cuhk.edu.hk
Wang
Chuan-Yue
CY
Wang
Ying
Y
Chiu
Helen F K
HF
Zhao
Jing-Ping
JP
Chen
Qi
Q
Chan
Sandra S M
SS
Lee
Edwin H M
EH
Ungvari
Gabor S
GS
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents