Predictors of quality of life in major XXXX : a naturalistic follow-up study.

@entity1 @entity3119 @entity308 @entity914 @entity1316 @entity161 @entity10963
BACKGROUND: Improved quality of life (QOL) of @entity1 suffering from major @entity914 has become an important treatment goal. We sought to determine predictors of perceived QOL and to explore the changes that occur regarding QOL among individuals with @entity161 as compared to @entity1 with @entity1316 . METHOD: In a naturalistic longitudinal design, 148 inpatients with @entity161 and 51 inpatients with @entity1316 (DSM-IV) were tracked for 16 months (SD = 4.6 months). Subjects were assessed at 2 timepoints for psychopathology, stress process-related factors, and perceived QOL, as measured by the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Predictors of fluctuations in QOL index scores during the follow-up period were identified using multiple regression techniques. RESULTS: We found that poor QOL is not a more severe problem for @entity161 @entity1 than for schizoaffective/ @entity1316 @entity1 . Improved QOL of @entity161 @entity1 is associated with @entity10963 ( @entity3119 , somatization) symptoms and increased self-efficacy and self-esteem ratings. Individual changes in QOL index scores among @entity1 with @entity1316 are associated with changes in @entity308 , sensitivity, expressed emotion, and task-oriented coping scores. CONCLUSION: Predictors of changes in satisfaction with life quality over time among @entity161 @entity1 are distinct from those associated with @entity1316 . Changes in stress process-related factors, rather than psychopathology, predict change in perceived QOL and should be considered when evaluating QOL outcomes.
