title: Clinical and treatment-related determinants of subjective quality of life in patients with first-episode psychosis.
abstract: Subjective quality of life (SQoL) has been increasingly studied in first-episode psychosis (FEP). Prior research primarily examined the impact of psychiatric symptoms on SQoL. Relationship between treatment-related factors and SQoL is under-studied. In this study, 159 Chinese patients who had completed 2-year treatment from early intervention service in Hong Kong were recruited. Assessments on premorbid adjustment, clinical profiles including social anxiety measure, functioning, antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal side-effects and attitude toward medication treatment were conducted. SQoL was evaluated by Chinese version SF36 which generated mental and physical component summary (MCS and PCS) scores for analysis. Our results showed that more severe positive symptoms, higher level of depression, greater social anxiety, more negative attitude toward antipsychotic medications and greater degree of akathisia independently predicted lower MCS score. Higher social anxiety level and poorer functioning predicted lower PCS score. Our results indicate that affective and positive symptoms, functioning, and treatment-related variables are critical determinants of SQoL in FEP patients. These identified factors thus represent potentially malleable therapeutic targets for early detection and prompt intervention to promote enhancement of SQoL in the early stage of illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Vivian Wing Yan
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: changwc@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Wing Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Gloria Hoi Kei
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Olivia Tsz Ting
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Jim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Emily Sin Kei
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Christy Lai Ming
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Sherry Kit Wa
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Edwin Ho Ming
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Eric Yu Hai
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents