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Improving quality of life and physical health in patients with schizophrenia: A 30-month program carried out in a real-life setting

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Hjorth
  • Clara Reece Medici
  • Anette Juel
  • Nikolaj Juul Madsen
  • Kirsten Vandborg
  • Povl Munk-Jørgensen

Abstract

Background: Patients with schizophrenia experience low quality of life (QoL) and poor physical health, which is explained, in part, by unhealthy lifestyle, tobacco smoking, poor diet and sedentary behavior. Aim: To measure QoL and physical health in patients with schizophrenia and to quantify associations between QoL and physical health. Methods: This was a naturalistic longitudinal 30-month follow-up study including individual guidance, group sessions and treatment as usual. Results: We included 190 patients. QoL was low among newly diagnosed patients. Higher body mass index was significantly associated with lower QoL. Newly diagnosed male patients showed lower QoL compared with females. Newly diagnosed patients experienced worsened health during the study period. In contrast, long-term schizophrenic patients started with worse physical health but improved with regard to weight, waist circumferences, intake of fast food and soft drinks, and light physical activity level. Newly diagnosed patients improved their QoL ( p  = .056), and the psychological domain improved by 8.0 points ( p  = .003). The number of interventions was positively associated with QoL. Conclusion: Patients with schizophrenia presented with low QoL and elevated risk factors for poor physical health. The intervention added onto ‘treatment as usual’ improved some risk factors for poor physical health among long-term patients. The number of interventions had an elevating effect on QoL in patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Hjorth & Clara Reece Medici & Anette Juel & Nikolaj Juul Madsen & Kirsten Vandborg & Povl Munk-Jørgensen, 2017. "Improving quality of life and physical health in patients with schizophrenia: A 30-month program carried out in a real-life setting," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(4), pages 287-296, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:63:y:2017:i:4:p:287-296
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764017702172
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Diana PK Roeg & Ien AM van de Goor & Margot CM Voogt & Marcel ALM van Assen & Henk FL Garretsen, 2014. "Effects of interferential care: A community-based care program for persons with severe problems on several life areas," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(6), pages 584-594, September.
    2. Rosemarie McCabe & Ute-Ulrike Röder-Wanner & Karin Hoffmann & Stefan Priebe, 1999. "Therapeutic Relationships and Quality of Life: Association of Two Subjective Constructs in Schizophrenia Patients," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 45(4), pages 276-283, December.
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    1. Clara R Medici & Claus H Vestergaard & Peter Hjorth & Mette V Hansen & Jan WD Shanmuganathan & Anne G Viuff & Povl Munk-Jørgensen, 2016. "Quality of life and clinical characteristics in a nonselected sample of patients with schizophrenia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(1), pages 12-20, February.

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