Relationship Between Symptom Severity, Symptom Types and Quality of Life in Patient with Schizophrenia

Quality of life in schizophrenia is affected by different symptom domains throughout the course of illness.  Quality of life has been accepted as an important treatment goal in Schizophrenia. Methods: . 100 patients with schizophrenia as per DSM Vcriteria fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria formed the study group.PANSS was used to assess symptom severity and quality of life was assessed through Q-LE-Q-SF. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and appropriate inferential statistics using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be significant Results: The mean PANSS score was76.78±19.40. The mean score for positive and negative symptoms was 17.42±6.83 and 20.91±6.76 while it was 38.47±9.45 for general psychopathology. The mean QLES-Q-SF score was 41.5±13.99. Quality of life had significant negative correlation with PANSS symptom scales. PANSS total subscale had highest negative correlation followed by General Psychopathology subscale, negative subscale and positive subscale respectively. Quality of life correlated more inversely with negative symptoms as compared to positive symptoms. Conclusion:  Psychopathology is inversely correlated with quality of life. All symptom domains should be the target of treatment to improve the quality of life of patients with greater emphasis on general psychopathology and negative symptoms.