Quality of life and subthreshold affective symptoms

Although Quality of Life in patients with Mood Disorders has been widely investigated, there are very few studies that examine the relationship between quality of life and subthreshold affective symptoms. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between mood spectrum and subjective quality of life in the general population. A sample of 200 healthy subjects was recruited from the general population. None of the subjects were treated with psychotropic medications or were receiving psychotherapy at the time of the assessments. Subjects were 22-55 years old. The mean age was 33.56 years. Subjects rated themselves on the 'Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire' (Q-LES-Q) and the 'Self-Report Questionnaire for Mood Spectrum' (MOODS-SR). We found a statistically significant correlation between Q-LES-Q total score and MOODS-SR total score (r = -0.43; p < 0.001) and between Q-LES-Q total score and depressive symptoms-related subtotal score of MOODS-SR (r = -0.35; p < 0.001), but not between Q-LES-Q total score and manic symptoms-related subtotal score of MOODS-SR. Our data suggests that subjects who report subthreshold affective symptomatology also report a low degree of enjoyment and satisfaction from life. The depressive aspects of the mood spectrum seem to have the greatest negative influence.