title: Associated factors of quality of life in first-episode schizophrenia patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Improving quality of life is an important goal in the treatment of schizophrenia. In previous research, quality of life has been reported to be compromised in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether quality of life may be impaired in first-episode schizophrenia patients and to identify the associated factors of quality of life in first-episode schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 20 normal controls were recruited. Quality of life was measured by using the Quality of Life scale (QLS). General and social self-efficacy, perceived social support were measured by using the self-report scales. The clinical assessments and comprehensive neurocognitive battery were also administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First-episode group showed significantly decreased QLS total and QLS subscale scores compared to normal controls group. The key associated factors of quality of life in patients with first-episode schizophrenia were the negative symptoms and social self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding implies that compromised quality of life may be already emerged in schizophrenia in their first-episode and the psychosocial interventions should be targeting the negative symptoms and the psychosocial protective factors including self-efficacy in addition to simply ameliorating the positive symptoms to foster social reintegration and recovery of first-episode patients.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yun Young
authors: YY
authors: Song
authors: Kyung Ran
authors: KR
authors: Kim
authors: Jin Young
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Su Young
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Jee In
authors: JI
authors: Kang
authors: Eun
authors: E
authors: Lee
authors: Suk Kyoon
authors: SK
authors: An
authors: Jun Soo
authors: JS
authors: Kwon