title: Predictive value of symptoms for quality of life in first-episode schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Management of the disease symptomatology impacts the long-term functioning and quality of life (QOL) in psychotic patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to study the association between psychiatric symptoms (positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms) and QOL in first-episode schizophrenia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia outpatients were recruited from a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. WHOQOL-Bref (World Health Organization Quality of Life) Scale was used to assess multi-dimensional domains of QOL (physical, psychological, social and environmental health). The patients were evaluated clinically using PANSS and followed up for 6 months. Multivariate analyses were carried out to outline the symptoms which are predictive of QOL in these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical well-being as assessed with WHOQOL-Bref is significantly impacted by the positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms of the disease. General psychopathology symptoms demonstrated a strong relationship with different facets of QOL. These symptoms are predictive of physical (P=0.025) and psychological health (P=0.026), social relationships (P=0.009) and environmental QOL (P=0.022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The general psychopathology symptoms significantly impact QOL in a diverse manner. Negative symptoms have a greater influence than positive symptoms on subjective QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antipsychotics focus on primary positive and negative disease symptoms. There is a need to develop a holistic approach (target non-psychotic symptoms intensively) in the disease management to prevent further long-term impairment of QOL.
authors.affiliation: Lady Hardinge Medical College, Department of Psychiatry of Children, Adolescents and Adults, New Delhi-1, India. docpreeta@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Preeta Kaur
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chugh
authors.forename: Harmeet S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Rehan
authors.forename: K E S
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Unni
authors.forename: Ravinder K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010045:Outpatients; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents