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In patients with schizophrenia, symptoms improvement can be uncorrelated with quality of life improvement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2011

K. Wilson-d’Almeida
Affiliation:
Inserm U669, Maison de Solenn, 97, boulevard du Port-Royal, 75679Paris cedex 14, France UMR-S0669, université Paris-Sud, université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
A. Karrow
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinik Hamburg-Eppendorf, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Martinistr, 52, 20246Hamburg, Germany
M.-C. Bralet
Affiliation:
Inserm U669, Maison de Solenn, 97, boulevard du Port-Royal, 75679Paris cedex 14, France UMR-S0669, université Paris-Sud, université Paris Descartes, Paris, France CHS, Clermont-de-l’Oise, France
N. Bazin
Affiliation:
EA 4047, université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Versailles, France Service de psychiatrie, hôpital Richaud, 1, rue Richaud, 78000, Versailles, France
M.-C. Hardy-Baylé
Affiliation:
EA 4047, université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Versailles, France Service de psychiatrie, hôpital Richaud, 1, rue Richaud, 78000, Versailles, France
B. Falissard*
Affiliation:
Inserm U669, Maison de Solenn, 97, boulevard du Port-Royal, 75679Paris cedex 14, France UMR-S0669, université Paris-Sud, université Paris Descartes, Paris, France Département de santé publique, hôpital Paul-Brousse, AP'HP, Villejuif, France
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 6 81 82 70 76; fax: +33 1 58 41 28 43. E-mail address:falissard_b@wanadoo.fr (B. Falissard).
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Abstract

Objectives

Quality of life has been found to be associated with symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the mechanism that underlies this association is still unclear. The objective of this paper is to prospectively evaluate the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia in relation to the concurrent evolution of their symptoms, their expectations and their perceived position in life.

Methods

Participants included 306 outpatients with schizophrenia who were interviewed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, about their quality of life (Outcome revealed by Preference in Schizophrenia, OPS) and symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS).

Results

Quality of life relative to subject expectations remained stable over time. A decrease in symptoms was correlated to an increase in both expectations and perceived position in life but did not correlate to quality of life.

Conclusion

The level of expectations seems to play a major role in the subjective assessment of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Symptom improvement is not necessarily associated with quality of life improvement relative to subject expectations. Caregivers should be aware of this result so as to deal with possible disappointments in patients receiving a new efficient treatment.

Type
Original article
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2011

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