Are factors associated with subjective quality of life in people with severe mental illness consistent over time?--A 6-year follow-up study.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the cross-sectional relationship between subjective quality of life and sociodemographic clinical and social factors over three points of assessment during a 6-year follow-up, and to investigate longitudinal predictors of subjective quality of life.

METHOD:
We investigated a sample of people with severe mental illness (n = 92), mainly with a psychosis diagnosis, at baseline and at an 18-month and 6-year follow-up. Measures included the Lancashire quality of life profile, Manchester short assessment of quality of life, Symptom Check List 90, Camberwell Assessment of Needs and the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction.

RESULTS:
Cross-sectionally subjective quality of life was associated to self-reported symptoms, social network and unmet needs. However, these determinants varied in importance between points of assessment. Longitudinal predictors of subjective quality of life were changes in self-reported symptoms and social network.

CONCLUSION:
There was a rather consistent set of determinants of subjective quality of life over time. Social network seems to be an important factor with relevance for improvements in subjective quality of life, however largely overlooked in earlier studies within the field.

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Author information

Author/s: Hansson, Lars (L); Björkman, Tommy (T);

Affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, PO Box 157, Lund, SE-221 00, Sweden. lars.hansson(-atsign-)med.lu.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation (Qual Life Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Feb; vol 16 (issue 1) : pp 9-16

Dates: Created 2007/01/03; Completed 2007/03/16;

PMID: 17033895, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Male
Middle Aged
Psychotic Disorders - psychology
Quality of Life
Social Support
Sweden

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