Abstract
Methods
In a naturalistic longitudinal design, 108 patients with SZ/SA disorders completed a comprehensive rating scale battery including
self-reported quality of life, emotional distress symptoms, coping styles, sense of self-efficacy, and social support, as
well as observer-rated psychopathology, medication side effects, and general functioning at 2 time points, baseline and 10 years
later.
self-reported quality of life, emotional distress symptoms, coping styles, sense of self-efficacy, and social support, as
well as observer-rated psychopathology, medication side effects, and general functioning at 2 time points, baseline and 10 years
later.
Results
Regression models revealed that reduction in self-reported symptoms of depression, sensitivity or anxiety along with increase
in self-efficacy, social support, and emotion-oriented coping scores predicted improvement in domain-specific perceived quality
of life. Adjustment of the psychosocial models for the effects of disorder-related factors (psychopathology, functioning,
and medication side effects) confirmed the above findings and amplified their statistical power.
in self-efficacy, social support, and emotion-oriented coping scores predicted improvement in domain-specific perceived quality
of life. Adjustment of the psychosocial models for the effects of disorder-related factors (psychopathology, functioning,
and medication side effects) confirmed the above findings and amplified their statistical power.
Conclusions
In the long-term course of severe mental disorders (SZ/SA), changes in the psychosocial factors are stronger predictors of
subjective quality of life outcome than disorder-related changes. The findings enable better understanding of the combined
effects of psychopathology and psychosocial factors on quality of life outcome over a 10-year period.
subjective quality of life outcome than disorder-related changes. The findings enable better understanding of the combined
effects of psychopathology and psychosocial factors on quality of life outcome over a 10-year period.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-0015-4
- Authors
- Michael S. Ritsner, Department of Psychiatry, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Marina Arbitman, Acute Department, Sha’ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Mobile Post Hefer, 38814 Hadera, Israel
- Alexander Lisker, Acute Department, Sha’ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Mobile Post Hefer, 38814 Hadera, Israel
- Alexander M. Ponizovsky, Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343