Predicting quality of life from symptomatology in schizophrenia at exacerbation and stabilization

There has been little research investigating how symptoms of schizophrenia and changes in symptomatology across the course of the illness relate to me asures of quality of life in patients. We examined this issue in 45 patient s assessed at hospital admission for illness exacerbation, at stabilization (prior to discharge) and at follow-up (5-9 months post-discharge). Symptom ratings at each time period consisted of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scal e (BPRS) and the Negative Symptom Assessment (NSA). The Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS) was administered upon admission to the hospita l (assessing the 3 months prior to admission) and again at follow-up. Corre lational analyses revealed relationships of both positive and negative symp toms with quality of life. These relationships are particularly strong at s tabilization. Stepwise regression analyses revealed changes in the NSA moti vation component to be most important in predicting quality of life for the patients at follow-up. BPRS psychosis and paranoia components are importan t predictors of quality of life at stabilization (but not during acute exac erbation). These results are important in terms of understanding the impact of changes in symptomatology on the quality of life for patients with schi zophrenia as well as in targeting specific symptom clusters for treatment t o maximize quality of life post-hospitalization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.