Quality of life of schizophrenic psychiatric outpatients as a criterion for treatment planning in psychiatric institutions

BACKGROUND: Subjective quality of life (QoL) is an indispensable part of the current concept of health. Therefore it should serve as a criterion for treatment planning in social psychiatric institutions. AIM: We looked at the QoL of our outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia in order to identify possible areas of life that might need further attention in treatment planning. METHODS: We used the short German version of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (BLEP-KF) to evaluate the QoL of 164 schizophrenic outpatients. All patients were diagnosed with the International Diagnostic Checklists (IDCL) for ICD-10. Demographic and treatment data are analysed cross-sectionally in relation to their QoL. RESULTS: The majority of patients was moderately happy with their general QoL. They were least satisfied in the domains of job and financial situation, mental health and sexuality. Psychopathology and especially the quality of individual care had a significant influence on the evaluation of QoL. CONCLUSION: This result supports an argument in favour of more individual patient-centred forms of case management to reduce the burden of severe psychopathological symptoms experienced in everyday activities by patients suffering from schizophrenia.