ObjectiveThe relationship between Quality of life (QoL) and global functioning and symptoms in outpatients with SchizophreniaMethodThe study was carried out on the outpatients with schizophrenia attending a Community Mental Health Centre in 2008. Each patient completed the WHO QoL Instrument – Brief and was administerd the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-24 to assess psychiatric symptoms and the VADO Personal and social Functioning Scale to assess the level of functioning.
Results:
The population studied subjects showed an intermediate satisfaction on the overall QoL and health; these data can be juxtaposed to the average of the National Italian WHOQoL Validation Group. QoL resulted positively associated to personal and social functioning, while it was negatively related to psychiatric symptoms.
Conclusion:
The patients showed a fairly good satisfaction in regard to their QoL. The severity of psychiatric symptoms is one of the elements influencing QoL, together with personal and social functioning that plays a relevant role.Keywordsschizophrenia, outcomes, quality of life, satisfaction, global functioning.