Quality of Life in Schizophrenia: What is Important for Persons with Schizophrenia in India?

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) is a multidimensional construct and is increasingly recognized as an important outcome measure. Schizophrenia runs a chronic course and is a disabling mental disorder. Assessment of QOL using currently available scales for schizophrenia may not be culturally relevant. METHODS: In phase one, patients with schizophrenia using psychiatric rehabilitation services, caregivers, and mental health professionals were interviewed qualitatively to identify factors that are important for QOL of patients. In phase two, 40 patients with schizophrenia were recruited consecutively from the outpatient department and asked to rate the importance/relevance of the above items for QOL on a Likert scale. RESULTS: Themes that emerged were work, family's understanding about illness, stigma, financial issues, social life, social standing, religion and spirituality, medications, physical health, mental health and symptoms, recreation and leisure, and independent living. Work and family's understanding of illness were considered as moderately or very important by all patients in phase two. CONCLUSIONS: Work is very important for all patients with schizophrenia for their QOL. The themes derived from this study could guide the development of a scale for QOL that is relevant to the Indian context.