Self-perception of quality of life in patients treated with antipsychotics

Despite extensive research, normal functionality remains problematic in patients with schizophrenia. Issues such as quality of life, subjective well-being, or psychosocial performance are currently objectives of interest. There are limited data collected prospectively on patients' perception of quality of life as compared between treatment groups, especially in developing countries. The aim of the present study was to analyze the evolution of patients' reported quality of life in patients with schizophrenia or related disorders treated with antipsychotics, in naturalistic settings.

The study was designed as a 12-month prospective observational study of 131 subjects with schizophrenia or related disorders treated with haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, or aripiprazole, recruited from consecutive hospitalized patients in a psychiatry department.

The mean scores for patients' reported quality of life and its components and for satisfaction with treatment had a favorable evolution, but increases were of reduced magnitude. The differences among treatment groups were not statistically significant, with few exceptions. A great variability of data was found.

Studies with a stratified analysis by factors influencing quality of life perceptions in this category of patients might allow the identification of differences, if any, between antipsychotics in this domain.