title: Quality of life in patients who have remitted from their first episode of psychosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia. smcotton@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: J F M
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gleeson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Jimenez
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGorry
mesh_terms: 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