Investigating the Intrapsychic Factors that Affect Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia / 대한정신분열병학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the intrapsychic factors affecting the quality of life of patients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) in 72 community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia. Demographic status, psychopathology, independent living skill, and insight were examined. Based on this, correlation analysis between each scale and multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the factors that can predict the quality of life. RESULTS: The illness duration was over 10 years in 79.2% of patients. The patients with 10–0 years of illness duration showed lower scores of quality of life than those with less than 10 years or more than 20 years. Anxiety/depressive symptom, hostile/suspiciousness were associated with quality of life scores. Among those, anxiety/depressive symptom was the strongest predictor of quality of life in patients with chronic schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: The management of anxiety and depressive symptoms should be implicated in the treatment of schizophrenic patients to improve the quality of life.