BACKGROUND: Researchers have paid scant attention to comparative studies of quality of life (QOL) issues among psychiatric diagnostic groups; the studies of patient-caregiver concordance ratings had small sample sizes; and the reports are rare from the African and Arab worlds. OBJECTIVES: to assess the subjective QOL of stable Sudanese outpatients, using the WHOQOL-Bref, compared with a general population sample; examine the caregiver-patient concordance; and assess the variables that impact on domains of QOL. METHOD: The responses of outpatients with schizophrenia (99), major affective disorders (120) and neuroses (81) (mean age 33.8) were compared with 211 controls and the impression of their family caregivers. RESULTS: Patients were dissatisfied with life circumstances; the schizophrenia group and those with co-morbidity had significantly lower QOL scores; while the control group had higher QOL scores. There was no significant impact on QOL domains, of socio-demographic factors, duration of illness and treatment side effects. The schizophrenia group had least concordance with caregivers, but eight items were judged to be satisfactorily concordant for all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric patients in stable condition can make reliable judgments of QOL, with relatives providing additional information. Differences in QOL and concordance of ratings reflect disease severity.
BACKGROUND: Researchers have paid scant attention to comparative studies of quality of life (QOL) issues among psychiatric diagnostic groups; the studies of patient-caregiver concordance ratings had small sample sizes; and the reports are rare from the African and Arab worlds. OBJECTIVES: to assess the subjective QOL of stable Sudanese outpatients, using the WHOQOL-Bref, compared with a general population sample; examine the caregiver-patient concordance; and assess the variables that impact on domains of QOL. METHOD: The responses of outpatients with schizophrenia (99), major affective disorders (120) and neuroses (81) (mean age 33.8) were compared with 211 controls and the impression of their family caregivers. RESULTS:Patients were dissatisfied with life circumstances; the schizophrenia group and those with co-morbidity had significantly lower QOL scores; while the control group had higher QOL scores. There was no significant impact on QOL domains, of socio-demographic factors, duration of illness and treatment side effects. The schizophrenia group had least concordance with caregivers, but eight items were judged to be satisfactorily concordant for all groups. CONCLUSIONS:Psychiatricpatients in stable condition can make reliable judgments of QOL, with relatives providing additional information. Differences in QOL and concordance of ratings reflect disease severity.
Authors: P B Fitzgerald; C L Williams; N Corteling; S L Filia; K Brewer; A Adams; A R de Castella; T Rolfe; P Davey; J Kulkarni Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 2001-05 Impact factor: 6.392
Authors: Muhammad Ajmal Zahid; J U Ohaeri; A S Elshazly; M A Basiouny; H M Hamoda; R Varghese Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2009-09-02 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Abdel W Awadalla; Jude U Ohaeri; Abdullah Gholoum; Ahmed O A Khalid; Hussein M A Hamad; Anila Jacob Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2007-06-19 Impact factor: 4.430