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Published on: April 23, 2014
Perceived functioning, well-being and psychiatric symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia treated with
W Wolfgang Fleischhacker1, Jonathan Rabinowitz, Georg Kemmler
1Department of Biological Psychiatry, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. wolfgang.fleischhacker@uibk.ac.at
Background:
The extent to which antipsychotics improve patients' well-being is uncertain.
Aims:
To examine psychopathology and patient-rated functioning and well-being in patients treated with risperidone.
Method:
In a 1-year, open-label, international multicentre trial of long-acting risperidone in 615 stable adult patients with schizophrenia, self-rated functioning and well-being were measured every 3 months using the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Psychopathology was quantified using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
Results:
Significant improvements were found on the SF-36 mental component summary score and vitality and social functioning scales. PANSS and mental component summary scores were moderately correlated.
Conclusions:
Patient-reported functioning and well-being appear to differ from investigator-rated psychotic symptoms. Patient-rated well-being should be assessed with symptoms to help measure treatment outcomes.
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