Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Aug;31(8):2471-2479.
doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-03062-2. Epub 2022 Jan 24.

The 5-year outcome of subjective quality of life in older schizophrenia patients

Sjors M M Lange  1   2 , Paul D Meesters  3 , Max L Stek  4   5 , Brenda W Penninx  4   5 , Didi Rhebergen  4   5
Affiliations

The 5-year outcome of subjective quality of life in older schizophrenia patients

Sjors M M Lange et al. Qual Life Res. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Subjective quality of life (SQOL) is increasingly valued as an important outcome in schizophrenia treatment. The current study aims to gain insight into changes in SQOL during 5-year follow-up in older persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

Methods: The sample consisted of a catchment area-based group of 75 older Dutch patients (mean age 66.0 years) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Factor analysis was used to identify subdomains of SQOL, measured with the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). 5-Year course trajectories and putative predictors of changes in SQOL and subdomains were examined using multivariable regression analyses.

Results: 72% was stable in either a high or a low SQOL-status over time. When outcome was defined as change score, 36%, 20%, and 44% of participants, respectively, reported a clinically relevant improvement, deterioration, or no change of SQOL during follow-up. Three SQOL subdomains were identified with different course trajectories; 33% of participants reported an improvement in the subdomains satisfaction with 'daily life' and 'personal circumstances.' The largest number of declines (28%) was reported in the subdomain satisfaction with 'physical and mental health.' Predictors of positive total and subdomain SQOL-change scores were limited to a higher age of onset and higher baseline SQOL scores.

Conclusion: In this cohort of older persons, it was demonstrated that SQOL might considerably change during 5-year follow-up. As course trajectories differed among subdomains, separate evaluation of these subdomains is clinically relevant. Improvement of SQOL is an attainable goal in older SSD patients despite deteriorating physical health.

Keywords: 5-year follow-up; Determinants; Factor analysis; Older age; Schizophrenia; Subjective quality of life.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Health Organisation. (1998). Development of the world health organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Psychological Medicine, 28(3), 551–558. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291798006667 - DOI
    1. Cohen, C. I., Meesters, P. D., & Zhao, J. (2015). New perspectives on schizophrenia in later life: Implications for treatment, policy, and research. The lancet Psychiatry., 2(4), 340–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00003-6 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hoertel, N., Rotenberg, L., Blanco, C., Camus, V., Dubertret, C., Charlot, V., Schürhoff, F., Vandel, P., & Limson, F. (2020). CSA study Group A comprehensive model of predictors of quality of life in older adults with schizophrenia: Results from the CSA study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01880-2 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Folsom, D. P., Depp, C., Palmer, B. W., Mausbach, B. T., Golshan, S., Fellows, I., Cardenas, V., Patterson, T. L., Kraemer, H. C., & Jeste, D. V. (2009). Physical and mental health-related quality of life among older people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 108(1–3), 207–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2008.12.008 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Meesters, P. D., Comijs, H. C., de Haan, L., Smit, J. H., Eikelenboom, P., Beekman, A. T. F., & Stek, M. L. (2013). Subjective quality of life and its determinants in a catchment area based population of elderly schizophrenia patients. Schizophrenia Research, 147(2–3), 275–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2013.04.030 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources