Quality of life in stable schizophrenia: the relative contributions of disorganization and cognitive dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relative contributions of disorganization and cognitive dysfunction to quality of life (QOL) in patients with stable schizophrenia.


METHODS
A total of 276 consecutive outpatients with stable schizophrenia were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. We performed a mediation analysis to assess the specific effect of disorganization on QOL, as assessed by the Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS), and the possible mediating role of cognitive dysfunction.


RESULTS
Our findings were as follows: (i) disorganization was negatively related to the total QLS score; (ii) disorganization was negatively related to two of the four QLS domains, namely the role-functioning domain (occupational/educational) and the intrapsychic functioning domain (e.g., motivation, curiosity, and empathy); and (iii) verbal memory was a partial mediator of the relationship between disorganization and QLS (the total score and the two above-mentioned domains).


CONCLUSIONS
Disorganization demonstrated direct and indirect effects via verbal memory on two domains of functioning, as measured by the QLS. These results highlight the importance of improving disorganization and cognition (particularly verbal memory) to improve the functional outcomes of patients with schizophrenia.
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Monica
M
Sigaudo
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Barbara
B
Crivelli
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Filomena
F
Castagna
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Michela
M
Giugiario
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Cinzia
C
Mingrone
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Cristiana
C
Montemagni
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Rocca
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatric Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: paola.rocca@unito.it.
Paola
P
Rocca
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000850:Anomie; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Cognitive dysfunction; Disorganization; Mediation analysis; Quality of life; Schizophrenia