Quality of life in schizophrenia: relationship to sociodemographic factors, symptomatology and tardive dyskinesia

TLDR

The impact of sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment factors on schizophrenia patients’ quality of life remains incompletely understood. The study evaluated the quality of life of schizophrenia patients attending a rehabilitation centre to identify its clinical correlates, noting that these associations warrant further investigation. The authors assessed quality of life among schizophrenia patients attending a catchment area rehabilitation centre to determine its clinical correlates. Patients had poor to moderate quality of life, inversely related to negative symptom severity, illness duration, cumulative hospitalization length, and age; those in hostels or group homes fared worse than those living independently or with family, and the presence of tardive dyskinesia was associated with poorer quality of life.

Abstract

The influence of sociodemographic, clinical and treatment factors on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia has yet to be fully defined. We evaluated the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia who were attending a catchment area rehabilitation centre, in order to establish its clinical correlates. These patients had a poor to moderate quality of life which was inversely related to negative symptom severity, illness duration, the cumulative length of previous hospitalization and patient age. Patients residing in hostels or group homes had a poorer quality of life than those living independently or with their family. The presence of tardive dyskinesia was associated with a poorer quality of life. This association merits further invesigation.