Quality of life in schizophrenic patients: association with depressive symptoms

The objective of this study was to examine to what extent depressive symptoms are associated with reduced quality of life in schizophrenia by using a general population sample as control group. Patients with ICD-10 schizophrenia stabilized during hospitalization with antipsychotics were compared with a general population sample by use of self-reported scales for quality of life (the WHO Quality of Life Short Form, WHOQOL- BREF) and for depression (the Major Depression Inventory, MDI). Of the schizophrenic patients screened for ability to participate in the study, 40, or 71%, completed the two questionnaires as psychometrically valid as the control group. Within the group of schizophrenic patients, no association was seen with the types of antipsychotic medication prescribed (typical vs. atypical antipsychotics). Both in the group of schizophrenic patients and in the general population sample, those persons scoring on the MDI to have depressive symptoms had significant reduced quality of life. In conclusion, approximately 70% of the schizophrenic patients stabilized during hospitalization with antipsychotics are able to validly complete self-report scales measuring quality of life and depressive symptoms. In these patients, depressive symptoms, as in the general population, was found to have association with reduced quality of life.