title: Effects of antipsychotic medications on quality of life and psychosocial functioning in patients with early-stage schizophrenia: 1-year follow-up naturalistic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relative effects of the atypical antipsychotic drugs and conventional agent on quality of life and psychosocial functioning in patients with early-stage schizophrenia is still uncertain because of an insufficient number of studies examining this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 12 months open-label, prospective observational, multicenter study, 1029 subjects with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder within 5 years of onset were monotherapy with chlorpromazine, sulpiride, clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine or aripiprazole. The health-related quality of life and psychosocial functioning were assessed using Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) and the Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months, treatment resulted in significant improvements in all 8 domain scores of SF-36, GAS and ADL score (all P-values< .001). However, only olanzapine and quetiapine groups demonstrated greater improvement in the role-psychical score of SF-36 and GAS score than did the chlorpromazine group (all P-values ≤ .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All antipsychotics may improve quality of life and social function in patients with early-stage schizophrenia, but further studies are needed to determine whether atypical antipsychotics are superior to conventional agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011 Hunan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhanchou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jinguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Maosheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Maorong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Renrong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhening
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jingping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents