A  study of quality of life and reasons for living in patients suffering from chronic mental illnesses

ABSTRACT

Background: Chronic mental illnesses like Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Depression, Alcoholism have a negative impact on the quality of life and affect the reasons for living in such patients. This study was done to find out how the quality of life affects the reasons for living in such chronic patients. Aim: To study the Quality of life and Reasons for living in patients suffering from chronic mental illness. Materials and methods: 60 patients suffering from chronic mental illness were selected as subjects. WHO Quality of Life - BREF scale and Reasons for Living inventory are used in this study. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean RFL score for Males was 151.52. Mean RFL score for females was 133.28. Strong Positive Co-relation was seen between RFL and Quality of life Domains with significant p-values (<0.05). Conclusion: Females have more Fear of Suicide and Psychological domain in quality of life whereas, Males have more Reasons for Living, Survival and Coping Beliefs, Responsibility to Family, Child Related Concerns, Fear of Social Disapproval, Moral Objections, Physical health, Social relationships and environmental domains.