Quality of life and subjective well-being in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: valid predictors of symptomatic response and remission?
OBJECTIVE
To examine quality of life and subjective well-being as predictors of symptomatic treatment outcome.


METHODS
Biweekly PANSS ratings were performed in 285 inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders within a multicenter trial by the German Research Network on Schizophrenia. Quality of life and subjective well-being were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN-K) and the Adjective Mood Scale (AMS). Response was defined as an initial 20% PANSS total score reduction and remission according to the consensus criteria. Correlation analysis, logistic regression and CART-analysis were performed.


RESULTS
In total, 81% of the sample achieved symptom response and 48% symptom remission. The statistical analyses revealed early improvement within the first two treatment weeks in the SWN-K scale to be a significant predictor for symptomatic response. Concerning symptomatic remission the SF-36 and SWN-K baseline scores as well as SWN-K early improvement showed significant predictive value.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the importance of the patient's self-perception and especially of early improvement of quality of life and subjective well-being for symptomatic treatment outcome.
Schennach-Wolff
Rebecca
R
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. rebecca.schennach-wolff@med.uni-muenchen.de
Jäger
Markus
M
Obermeier
Michael
M
Schmauss
Max
M
Laux
Gerd
G
Pfeiffer
Herbert
H
Naber
Dieter
D
Schmidt
Lutz G
LG
Gaebel
Wolfgang
W
Klosterkötter
Joachim
J
Heuser
Isabella
I
Kühn
Kai-Uwe
KU
Lemke
Matthias R
MR
Rüther
Eckart
E
Klingberg
Stefan
S
Gastpar
Markus
M
Seemüller
Florian
F
Möller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Riedel
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents