Insight and quality of life in long-term hospitalized Japanese patients with chronic schizophrenia

Authors: Nakamae, Takashi¹; Kitabayashi, Yurinosuke; Okamura, Aiko; Shibata, Keisuke¹; Iwahashi, Sachiko²; Naka, Fumiko²; Morinobu, Midori²; Watanabe, Mika²; Narumoto, Jin¹; Kitabayashi, Masaki²; Fukui, Kenji¹

Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Volume 64, Number 4, 1 August 2010 , pp. 372-376(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between insight and quality of life (QOL) and the respective predictive factors in long-term hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Methods: The present subjects were 47 Japanese patients with chronic schizophrenia who were hospitalized for >1 year (mean hospitalization period, 9.8 years). Assessments were made using the Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD) and the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale. Sociodemographic details and illness-related variables were also evaluated, including use of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

Results: There was no association between SUMD and EQ-5D scores. Hallucinatory behavior was a predictor of good insight. Poor rapport was a predictor of bad insight. Poor attention was a predictor of bad QOL.

Conclusion: The relationship between insight and QOL and the respective predictive factors might be different between acute and chronic stages. Further studies are needed to investigate how these changes occur.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02100.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto and 2: Gojouyama Hospital, Nara, Japan

Publication date: 2010-08-01