Self-reported life satisfaction and treatment factors in patients with schizophrenia, major depression and anxiety disorder

Our aim was to study the associations between life satisfaction and treatme nt factors and how depression affects these associations among patients wit h schizophrenia (n = 403), major depression (n = 349) and anxiety disorder (n = 139) from a defined area. Treatment satisfaction and compliance were h igh, but life satisfaction was low regardless of diagnostic group. Patients with schizophrenia recorded better life satisfaction than patients with th e other disorders. There were few independent associations between life sat isfaction and treatment factors. Fortunately, factors amenable to treatment intervention, such as depression, problem-solving ability and social suppo rt, were independently related to life satisfaction in every diagnostic gro up. Depression decreased these associations significantly only in patients with schizophrenia. Life satisfaction and treatment satisfaction should be included as separate variables in treatment outcome studies.