QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DYSTHYMIA

Quality of life (QOL) was assessed in three groups of patients, consis ting of 30 schizophrenic patients with duration of illness <2 years, 3 0 schizophrenic patients with duration of illness greater than or equa l to 2 years and 30 dysthymic patients. The diagnoses were made accord ing to ICD-10. Two scales of quality of life were used, one of which w as specific for schizophrenia, while the ether was generic for all pat ients. On inter-group comparison the two schizophrenia groups did not show significant differences in quality of life, but on comparing schi zophrenic and dysthymic patients, significant differences emerged. Dys thymic patients were significantly less satisfied than schizophrenic p atients with duration of illness <2 years in the domain of physical he alth. In the domains of satisfaction with medication and leisure-time activities, both schizophrenic groups were significantly more satisfie d than the dysthymic group. Comparison of the quality of life ratings of our patients with those of a well-known study from Sweden revealed some significant differences which relate to the domains of work, cont acts, inner experience and leisure-time activities. Cultural factors a re invoked to account for these differences. The need for refinement o f assessment of quality of life in multi-racial and multi-ethnic conte xts is stressed.