Quality of life in patients who have remitted from their first episode of psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Quality of life (QoL) in first-episode psychosis (FEP) is strongly related to levels of psychopathology and may vary as a function of illness phase. QoL remains poorly understood in FEP.


OBJECTIVE
Characterise the nature and predictors of QoL in patients who have remitted from their first-episode of psychosis.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics, diagnoses, and psychopathology were assessed in 81 FEP patients. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Bref (WHOQoL-Bref) was used to assess QoL in these patients. Carer-related variables (expressed emotion and burden of care) were ascertained from 63 relatives.


RESULTS
Poorer QoL was associated with personality disorder, depression, mild psychotic positive symptoms, and impaired functioning. Carer-related factors such as emotional overinvolvement and burden of care were also associated with a reduction in patients' QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression, functioning and family variables impacted on QoL, and need to be considered in terms of ongoing patient management.
Cotton
S M
SM
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia. smcotton@unimelb.edu.au
Gleeson
J F M
JF
Alvarez-Jimenez
M
M
McGorry
P D
PD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult