Adult quality of life and associated factors in adolescent onset schizophrenia and affective psychotic disorders

Background Subjects in treatment for affective disorders are usually less satisfied with life compared to subjects with schizophrenia. Aims The aims of this study were to compare subjective quality of life (QoL) at adult age of adolescent onset psychotic disorders and analyse associated factors. Method Fifty-three patients with adolescent onset psychotic disorders were followed up at age 25, diagnostically re-evaluated according to the DSM-IV and assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, the Strauss-Carpenter Scale and the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. Results Subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (n=27) experienced significantly lower overall QoL than subjects with psychotic mood disorders (n=26).Overall QoL was strongly associated to depressed mood (R2=0.49) in the schizophrenia group and to degree of employment (R2=0.39) in the mood disordered group.Conclusion Depression is a major concern in the evaluation and treatment of patients with schizophrenia, while vocational support seems particularly important after an episode of psychotic mood disorder.