Melle I, Friis S, Haahr U, Johannesen J O, Larsen T K, Opjordsmoen S, Roessberg J I, Rund B R, Simonsen E, Vaglum P, McGlashan T
Department of Research and Education, Division of Psychiatry, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway.
Eur Psychiatry. 2005 Nov;20(7):474-83. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2005.03.002. Epub 2005 Jun 20.
Quality of life (QoL) measures are increasingly recognized as necessary parts of outcome assessments in psychosis. The present paper is a comprehensive study of patients with first-episode psychosis where QoL is measured by the commonly used Lehman Quality of Life Interview (L-QoLI). The aim is to examine if the L-QoLI maintain its original structure when used in a group of patients with first-episode psychosis, and to investigate what determines global subjective QoL with a specific emphasis on premorbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and clinical symptoms. The study indicates that the psychometric properties of the L-QoLI do not change significantly when used in first-episode samples. The patients report subjective and objective QoL in the fair to good range, with only a moderate association between the objective and subjective measures. Poor global satisfaction is predicted by being single, abusing drugs, being depressed, having a diagnosis of psychotic affective disorder, having poor premorbid social adjustment and DUP over 10 weeks. The study supports the notion that patients with first-episode psychosis construct QoL in the same way as other groups, and that longer durations of compromised function at this stage produces poor satisfaction with life rather than a downward readjustment of expectations.
