The importance of strengthening research on the implementation and dissemination of promotion, prevention and service delivery interventions in the mental health field needs to be emphasized. The complexity of mental health and its broader conceptualisation requires complementary research approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration to better serve the needs of the European population.
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to examine critically results of quality‐of‐life research in schizophrenic patients living in the community. Method: Based on the relevant literature results of specific studies are discussed in the light of the methodological problems of assessing quality of life in these people. Results: Subjectively assessed quality of life was found to be higher in the less educated and in female patients, and when a sense of control is experienced. If negative or extrapyramidal symptoms are experienced and stigmatization is perceived, subjective quality of life is reported as being poorer. These results are discussed in view of the additional needs and fewer resources of this population, their stigma‐dilemma and their occasional difficulties in adequately assessing quality of life. Conclusion: It is argued that subjective and quantitative measures of quality of life in schizophrenic patients should be supplemented by external assessment and qualitative methods.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.