Psychiatry Investig.  2011 Sep;8(3):201-206.

Associated Factors of Quality of Life in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ansk@yuhs.ac
  • 2Section of Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioural Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Psychiatry, Ilsan Hospital, National Health Insurance Corporation, Goyang, Korea.
  • 5Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
Improving quality of life is an important goal in the treatment of schizophrenia. In previous research, quality of life has been reported to be compromised in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether quality of life may be impaired in first-episode schizophrenia patients and to identify the associated factors of quality of life in first-episode schizophrenia.
METHODS
Forty-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 20 normal controls were recruited. Quality of life was measured by using the Quality of Life scale (QLS). General and social self-efficacy, perceived social support were measured by using the self-report scales. The clinical assessments and comprehensive neurocognitive battery were also administered.
RESULTS
First-episode group showed significantly decreased QLS total and QLS subscale scores compared to normal controls group. The key associated factors of quality of life in patients with first-episode schizophrenia were the negative symptoms and social self-efficacy.
CONCLUSION
This finding implies that compromised quality of life may be already emerged in schizophrenia in their first-episode and the psychosocial interventions should be targeting the negative symptoms and the psychosocial protective factors including self-efficacy in addition to simply ameliorating the positive symptoms to foster social reintegration and recovery of first-episode patients.

Keyword

Quality of life; Negative symptoms; Self efficacy; Schizophrenia; First-episode

MeSH Terms

Humans
Quality of Life
Schizophrenia
Self Efficacy
Weights and Measures
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