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Socio-demographic and clinical determinants of quality of life in Chinese patients with schizophrenia: a prospective study

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess the changes in the quality of life (QOL) of Chinese schizophrenia patients and to identify their predictors over a 1-year follow-up.

Methods

A cohort of 116 schizophrenia patients was recruited, and their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including psychotic and depressive symptoms, drug-induced side effects, social functioning, and QOL were assessed with standardized rating instruments. The patients received standard psychiatric care and were followed up for 1 year.

Results

The psychotic and depressive symptoms, extrapyramidal side effects, and QOL domains of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, social functioning, and role limitations due to emotional problems all improved significantly. Social functioning was a predictor of baseline QOL and change at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Routine clinical management was effective in improving schizophrenia patients’ psychopathology and several domains of QOL. QOL was related to the level of social functioning and had only a weak association with socio-demographic factors.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

QOL:

Quality of life

EPS:

Extrapyramidal side effects

PANSS:

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale

MADRS:

Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

SAS:

Simpson-Angus Scale of Extrapyramidal Symptoms

SDSS:

Social Disability Screening Schedule

PF:

Physical functioning

RP:

Role limitations due to physical problems

BP:

Bodily pain

GH:

General health

VT:

Vitality

SF:

Social functioning

RE:

Role limitations due to emotional problems

MH:

Mental health

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Direct Grant for Research from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (No. 2041454), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30800367), the Beijing Nova Program of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (No. 2008B59), and the 10th National 5-Year Plan Foundation of the Ministry of Science and Technology Program (No. 2004BA720A22).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng District, 100088, Beijing, China

    Yu-Tao Xiang, Chuan-Yue Wang, Ying Wang & Qi Chen

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Yu-Tao Xiang, Helen F. K. Chiu, Sandra S. M. Chan, Edwin H. M. Lee & Gabor S. Ungvari

  3. Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Jing-Ping Zhao

Authors
  1. Yu-Tao Xiang
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  2. Chuan-Yue Wang
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  3. Ying Wang
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  4. Helen F. K. Chiu
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  5. Jing-Ping Zhao
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  6. Qi Chen
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  7. Sandra S. M. Chan
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  8. Edwin H. M. Lee
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  9. Gabor S. Ungvari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chuan-Yue Wang.

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Xiang, YT., Wang, CY., Wang, Y. et al. Socio-demographic and clinical determinants of quality of life in Chinese patients with schizophrenia: a prospective study. Qual Life Res 19, 317–322 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9593-9

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