Full Text:

Objective: Schizophrenia is a chronic disease marked by intellectual deterioration and cognitive impairment. Although much progress has been achieved in the treatment of schizophrenia, quality of life in schizophrenia patients is far from satisfactory. This study aims to investigate effects of disability and severity of symptoms on quality of life in schizophrenia.

Method: The study included fifty (50) patients who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. Patients were evaluated by using Sociodemographic Data Form, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DASII), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Insight Assessment Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS).

Results: Results suggested a positive correlation between economic status of patients and all areas of quality of life. A positive relationship was also determined between onset age of disease and instrumental role category, and common objects and activities. Results revealed a positive relationship between all areas of quality of life and BPRS and PANSS negative scores. A negative relationship was found between disability scores and all parts of quality of life. On the other hand, a positive relationship was found between interpersonal relations area of quality of life and insight scores, while a negative relationship was determined between interpersonal relations area of quality of life and LSAS anxiety and avoidance scores.

Conclusion: This study investigated quality of life and factors that may affect quality of life in schizophrenia patients. Results suggested that, similan to chronic physical diseases, disability also affects quality of life negatively in chronic psychological disease such as schizophrenia. Therefore reducing disability would perhaps be the most effective way to increase quality of life.