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The RSM-scale: a pilot study on a new specific scale for self- and observer-rated quality of life in patients with schizophrenia

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Abstract

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a self- and observer-rating scale on quality of life in patients suffering from schizophrenia with regard to the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics based on different dimensions and to apply within a pilot study.

Methods

Following review of existing scales and a prevalidation phase, the Riedel-Spellmann-Musil (RSM) scale was developed comprising 36 items assigned to different subscales. As reference scales, the Quality of Life Scale (QLS) and the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale—short version (SWN-K) were performed, psychopathology and adverse events were measured at all visits. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to assess construct validity, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were used for test–retest reliability. T tests were performed in normal distributed samples; otherwise Wilcoxon tests were used.

Results

One hundred and thirty-six patients were included in the study. Cronbach`s α was 0.917 for the self-rating and 0.915 for the interviewer-rating part. ICCs were >0.70 for all subscales. The self-rating part correlated strongly with the SWN-K and the observer part with the QLS. Changes in psychopathology over the study period and different levels of functioning were detected.

Conclusion

The RSM-scale is a new scale to assess the quality of life in different dimensions of patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics and shows good internal consistency, test–retest reliability, construct and discriminant validity.

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Abbreviations

RSM-scale:

Riedel-Spellmann-Musil-Scale

SWN-K:

Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale—short version

QLS:

Quality of Life Scale

PSP:

Personal and Social Performance Scale

SF-36:

Short Form (36) Health Survey

PANSS:

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale

CGI-S:

Clinical Global Impression Scale—Severity

GAF:

Global Assessment of Functioning Scale

ESRS:

Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale

UKU:

Udvalg for Klniske Undersogelser Scale

HRQL:

Health-Related Quality of Life

DSM-IV:

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all participants of the expert discussions, Prof. R. Engel for advice in scale development and the clinicians for recruiting and rating the patients, namely A. Cerovecki, S. Dehning, L. de la Fontaine, I. Hermisson, K. Maino, J. Matz, E. Karamatskos, M. Opgen-Rhein, F. Seemüller, R. Zimmermann, B. Hock and K. Janjic and F. Meister for creating the database. The RSM-scale is available for researchers by contacting M. Riedel, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of LMU, Munich, mriedel@med.uni-muenchen.de. The English translation (not validated) of the German version of the scale is to be found in the appendix. The study was financially supported by AstraZeneca. Study design, scale development, scale validation, manuscript preparation and review were performed without any input of AstraZeneca.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany

    M. Riedel, I. Spellmann, R. Schennach-Wolff, M. Obermeier & R. Musil

  2. Psychiatric Clinic, Vinzenz-von-Paul-Hospital, Rottweil, Germany

    M. Riedel

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  1. M. Riedel
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  5. R. Musil
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Correspondence to R. Schennach-Wolff.

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Riedel, M., Spellmann, I., Schennach-Wolff, R. et al. The RSM-scale: a pilot study on a new specific scale for self- and observer-rated quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Qual Life Res 20, 263–272 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9744-z

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