[Subjective quality of life of patients with chronic schizophrenia]

The main results of quality of life research in sociology and social psychology and the findings of psychiatric studies on subjective quality of life are summarized. The present study examined subjective quality of life in patients with chronic schizophrenia in different treatment settings (n = 318/ICD 10:F20). The satisfaction scales of the instrument used (Berliner Lebensqualitätsprofil) are shown to have adequate consistency coefficients. Psychopathological variables accounted for more variance than demographic and illness-related characteristics and features of objective quality of life. Negative schizophrenic symptoms were not of particular concern, and anxiety/depression scores did not interact with satisfaction ratings in different settings. Two of nine domains (living situation and mental health) and the total scores showed significant differences between patients in different settings. The degree of contrast between in- and out-patients seemed to be influenced by the current length of stay of the in-patients. In addition to cross-sectional studies, there is a need for further examination of differences in subjective quality of life and in treatment effects in longitudinal studies, which should make use of panel designs.