Subjective Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia Receiving Antipsychotics: Relationship among Subjective Quality of Life, Drug Attitude, and Side-effect Profiles of Drugs

Ryu, Seuk Hwan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The first aim of this study was to investigate the difference between patients with schizophrenia receiving typical and atypical antipsychotics. The second aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among subjective quality of life, drug attitude, and side effect profiles of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 64 patients with schizophrenia. The tools used in this study were the Korean version of the SmithKline Beecham Quality of Life Scale(KvSBQOL), Korean modification of the Scale to measure subjective well-being under Neuroleptic treatment(KmSWN), Korean version of Liverpool University Neuroleptics Side effect Rating Scale(LUNSER), Korean version of Drug Attitude Inventory-10(DAI-10). Student t-test, Correlation analysis, and regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Internal consistency was high, measuring 0.70 for the DAI-10, 0.94 for the LUNSER, 0.83 for the QOL, and 0.88 for the KmSWN. In quality of life, atypical antipsychotic group have significant higher quality of life in psychological well-being factor. There was statistically significant correlated between stability factor and physical well-being factor in KvSBQOL and side effects in LUNSER. There was no significant difference between typical and atypical antipsychotic group and significant correlated between dissatisfaction factor in KmSWN and side effect in LUNSER. CONCLUSION: The quality of life of patients with schizophrenia may be influenced by the side effects of drugs. The attitude toward drugs may have influence on the quality of life. Treatment program to decrease the side effect of drugs and influence on a positive attitude toward drugs should be offered to enhance quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.