Socio-demographic and clinical correlates of subjective quality of life among Nigerian outpatients with schizophrenia.

This study aimed to measure the subjective quality of life (QOL) of Nigerian outpatients with schizophrenia and to examine its socio-demographic as well as clinical determinants. A total of 313 outpatients with schizophrenia participated in the study. Data were collected on socio-demographics, outpatient clinic attendance, perceived social support, perceived satisfaction with hospital care, medication adherence, illness severity and QOL. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the amount of variance in the QOL domain scores explained by socio-demographic and clinical variables. Employment status, perceived social support, satisfaction with outpatient care, antipsychotic medication dose, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores and medication adherence had significant relationships with all the QOL domains. Average monthly allowance and outpatient clinic default were significantly associated with all QOL domains except social relationship. Socio-demographic and clinical factors explained only a modest part (29.4%) of the variance in the QOL scores. It is likely that unmeasured 'internalised' determinants contribute in a much larger sense to the variation in subjective QOL.