Health-Related Quality of Life and Overall Life Satisfaction in People with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) in people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses (SMI) is an important outcome goal, yet there is no consistent definition of the construct. We examined three aspects of QoL in persons with SMI: overall life satisfaction, physical health-related QoL (HRQoL), and mental HRQoL. This study had two primary aims: first, to examine whether there are differences in physical and mental HRQoL in persons with SMI, and, second, to investigate the cognitive, clinical, and functional correlates of the three QoL indicators. Participants were 48 persons with SMI who completed assessments of QoL, cognition, functional capacity, psychiatric symptomatology, and medical comorbidity. Results indicate that participants experience similar levels of physical and mental HRQoL, and these two constructs are not related to one another. Physical HRQoL is associated with less medical comorbidity, while mental HRQoL is associated with negative and depressive symptoms. Overall life satisfaction was associated with fewer psychiatric symptoms and less medical comorbidity. This study adds to the important literature defining distinct domains of QoL and supports the necessity of addressing both physical and mental health factors as they relate to recovery and well-being among persons with SMI.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Health-Related Quality of Life among People with Serious Mental Illness in Supportive Housing

“…People with SMI report lower HRQoL compared to those without SMI [20,21] and the presence of comorbid chronic health conditions is associated with lower perceived health and poorer functioning [22,23]. However, research thus far has not comprehensively explored how common CVD risk factors are collectively associated with HRQoL among persons with a broad spectrum of SMI, with prior literature primarily focusing on mood disorders or on speci c indicators of CVD risk (e.g.…”

A study of drug attitude and medication adherence and its relationship with the impact of illness among the mentally ill

“…It is determined by severity of the symptoms, duration of the episodes, forms of the symptoms, treatment response, coping skills, stress load, comorbidity, and lifestyle. However, it remains unclear as to which factors best predict the quality of life 3 . Being a leading cause of DALY, and a neglected area of concern by the government like in India, and with a strong recommendation from World Health Organization for further research, it is important to explore the impact of mental illness among Indian population.…”

“What an eye-opener” – a qualitative study of vulnerable citizens participating in a municipality-based intervention

“…This population of citizens with a mental health disorder is considered to be more vulnerable, and poses challenges for society (Barnes, Murphy, Fowler, & Rempfer, 2012; Borg, Nexø, Kolte, & Andersen, 2010; Evans, Banerjee, Leese, & Huxley, 2007). Barriers for well-being and participation in everyday-life activities can be challenging for these individuals, as this can lead to maintenance of their mental health disorder and a lower quality of life (Borg et al, 2010).…”

“…Furthermore, vulnerable citizens are more susceptible to unhealthy lifestyle choices, which may increase the risk of other diseases and further complicate their situation (Radke, Parks, & Ruter, 2010; Danish Health Authority, 2014). Therefore, there is a need to offer vulnerable citizens assistance, in order to increase quality of life and participation in everyday-life activities in relation to both psychosocial and health aspects (Barnes et al, 2012). …”