Quality of Life and Insight in Patients with Schizophrenia

Yoo, Hee Jeong; Yoon, Doh Jun; Shin, Young Woo; Bahn, Geonho; Kim, Jong Woo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate differences in the quality of life(QOL) according to insight in patients with schizophrenia. The author speculated that insight might have an effect on individual's QOL, especially subjective QOL. METHOD: The study group consisted of patients with schizophrenia(N=55). Subjects were divided into two groups, patients with insight(N=22)and without insight(N=15), based on Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorders(SUMD). All of the patients were administered the Quality of Life Interview (QOLI)by Lehman and compared in objective and subjective QOL between two groups. Additionally, they completed BDI and F scale on MMPI.
RESULTS
The patients with insight showed a tendency of lower scores in total subjective QOLI scores and the safety issues compared to the patients without insight although not significant statistically. And they showed significantly less satisfaction with social relations. In objective QOL, there are no statistically significant differences between two groups.
CONCLUSION
Such differences support the notion that schizophrenic patients with insight are less satisfied with their lives, especially in the aspect of interpersonal relations. It reflects the awareness of functional decline due to lifetime disability, disconnection from social relations, poor resources and supports, social stigma, and also depressive or anxiety symptoms. The authors propose that the treatment strategies for schizophrenia must include concern and support for domains of life with which patients feel themselves least satisfied, to increase effectiveness and efficacy of treatment and improve QOL.