A prospective study of the change in quality of life and its correlation with psychopathology among patients with schizophrenia having acute exacerbation

Background: Aims: To assess the change in quality of life and its correlation with psychopathology among patients with schizophrenia having acute exacerbation. Methods: The study was conducted among patients admitted in the hospital for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. The subject was assessed with PANSS (for symptom severity), WHO QoL Bref (for quality of life). Then at end of three months after first assessment the PANSS, WHO QoL Bref were re-administered. Paired t tests for changes in severity of symptoms and Pearsons correlation of statistics was used to assess relation between symptom severity and quality of life. Results: 40 patients were enrolled into the study, 3 did not complete the study. The PANSS positive subcategory score showed maximum change (mean=12.054, t=14.214, p<0.01). The WHO QoL Bref social relation showed maximum change (mean=27.405, t=8.347, p<0.01). Change in PANSS score correlation with endpoint QoL scores showed negative subcategory had positive correlation to social relations score (r=0.365, p=0.026) and affective subcategory had negative correlation to psychological domain (r=0.670, p<0.01). Conclusion: Improvement in quality of life in subjects having schizophrenia appears to be significantly related to depressive and anxiety symptoms which can be a part of the disorder.