Quality of life in first-admitted schizophrenia patients: a follow-up study

Background. While most studies of quality of life (QoL) in schizophrenia ha ve investigated longterm patients, relatively little is known about QoL ear ly in the illness and how it changes over time. This study was conducted to investigate objective and subjective quality of life in first-admitted sch izophrenia patients as compared to patients with long-term schizophrenia, c hanges between first admission and 9-month follow-up and predictors of chan ges. Method. Eighty-six patients were examined after first admission and 51 were re-interviewed at follow-up. Results were compared with samples of in-pati ents and out-patients with long-term schizophrenia. QoL was assessed using a German version of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. Results. Although some objective QoL data were more favourable in first-adm itted patients, subjective QoL was lower than in each of the other two grou ps, even when psychopathology and age were controlled for. On a group level , patients showed a slight improvement in subjective QoL, which was not sta tistically significant. Individual changes over time were not predicted by initial data, but were correlated with changes in anxiety/depression. Conclusion. Subjective QoL appears to be lower in first-admitted schizophre nics than in groups with long-term illness and, on a group level, it change s little within 9 months. On an individual level, changes in depressive sym ptoms need to be considered when interpreting changes in satisfaction with life.