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Quality of life and illness beliefs in individuals with early psychosis

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Quality of life (QoL) has become an important outcome measure in early psychosis. This study examined associations between illness beliefs (how individuals perceive their mental health problems), symptom factors and QoL in an early psychosis population.

Methods

Eighty-one individuals with early psychosis completed a battery of questionnaires measuring QoL, illness perceptions, psychotic and affective symptoms.

Results

QoL was significantly associated with certain illness beliefs, namely treatment control and consequences of psychosis. Lower levels of QoL were associated with higher depression, anxiety and general psychopathology. QoL was found to be predicted by key illness beliefs.

Conclusions

Causality has not been fully established, but these results suggest that beliefs about mental health problems may have a direct impact on outcome, and point towards possible targets for intervention, such as challenging illness-related appraisals. This is consistent with both general cognitive models of psychosis, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for this client group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK

    Kate Theodore, Rhianne Doherty & Lyn Ellett

  2. Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, 3rd Floor Charles Bell House, 67-73 Riding House Street, London, W1W 7EJ, UK

    Sonia Johnson & Anna Chalmers-Brown

  3. Camden and Islington Early Intervention Service, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, 125–133 Bedford House, Camden High Street, London, NW1 7JR, UK

    Sonia Johnson & Rhianne Doherty

  4. Hounslow Early Active Recovery Team, Lakeside Mental Health Unit, West Middlesex University Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust, London, UK

    Chris Harrop

Authors
  1. Kate Theodore
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  2. Sonia Johnson
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  3. Anna Chalmers-Brown
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  4. Rhianne Doherty
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  5. Chris Harrop
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  6. Lyn Ellett
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Correspondence to Lyn Ellett.

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Theodore, K., Johnson, S., Chalmers-Brown, A. et al. Quality of life and illness beliefs in individuals with early psychosis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47, 545–551 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0360-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0360-1

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