QUALITY-OF-LIFE AS AN OUTCOME MEASURE IN EVALUATING MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES - A REVIEW OF THE EMPIRICAL-EVIDENCE

This paper addresses the question of how well quality of life measures function as valid and sensitive outcome indicators of mental health s ervices. Findings from the major empirical studies of quality of life in the mental health area over the last 15 years are reviewed. The ext ent to which existing studies provide evidence of the ability of quali ty of life measures to discriminate the impact of service intervention s on the well-being of psychiatric clients is examined. Findings from cross-sectional, comparative, repeated-measures and randomised studies are presented. The available empirical evidence is critically examine d and the methodological and theoretical implications of current findi ngs for future Work are considered.