Quality of Life and Clinical Characteristics in a Non-selected Sample of Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction

Patients with schizophrenia experience lower quality of life (QOL) than the general population. Improving QOL is both challenging and desirable.

Objectives

To broaden the understanding of QOL in patients with schizophrenia to facilitate development of treatment strategies.

Aims

To assess QOL in patients with schizophrenia and to examine the relation of QOL with a) illness duration b) antipsychotic treatment (defined daily doses, ddd), c) body mass index (BMI) and d) smoking.

Methods

In this naturalistic, cross-sectional study patients were interviewed to obtain smoking habits, they completed a QOL questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref, composed of a physical, psychological, social and environmental domain) and had height and weight measured. Patients were grouped as first-ever diagnosed or long-term ill. Characteristics were correlated to QOL using multiple regression analysis.

Preliminary Results

82 participated. Mean QOL was comparable to prior studies. A number of characteristics were significantly associated with the four QOL domains. The regression coefficients and significance levels are presented in Table I.

Conclusion

Patients with schizophrenia experienced a low QOL. The following characteristics were significantly associated with lower QOL in a) first-ever diagnosed: high BMI, low ddd and smoking habits and b) long-term ill: high BMI and short illness duration. Changing these might improve QOL in patients with schizophrenia.