Health-related quality of life encompasses many variables

Key message: Health-related quality of life is complex and encompasses functional abilities, well-being, social interaction, vocational status, and physical and psychological state.

Background^{[Cramer et al., 2000]}

• Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become an important aspect in the evaluation of treatment programs for people with chronic severe schizophrenia.

• HRQoL encompasses several major dimensions, including psychological status, functional abilities, subjective wellbeing, social interactions, economic status, vocational status, and physical status.

• HRQoL in schizophrenia can be assessed by direct patient response or by a rating based on a structured interview.

Background^{[Awad AG, et al., 1997]}

• In the proposed model shown on the slide, the QoL of individuals maintained on antipsychotic drug therapy for schizophrenia is viewed as the patient’s perception of the outcome of an interaction between severity of psychotic outcomes, side effects (including subjective responses to antipsychotic drugs), and the level of psychotic performance.

• The validity of the model was tested in a clinical setting with patients with schizophrenia (n=62) who were clinically stabilized on antipsychotic drug therapy.

• The results of the study broadly endorse the key aspects of the proposed model and suggest that improvements in patients’ subjective experiences during antipsychotic therapy can enhance patients’ QoL.

References:
Cramer JA, et al. Schizophr Bull. 2000; 26(3): 659–666.

Awad AG, et al. Qual Life Res. 1997; 6(1):21–26.