A latent variable causal model of the quality of life and community tenure of psychotic patients.

Services are intended to maintain patients in the community while improving the quality of their lives. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which psychiatric patients' diagnoses, levels of autonomy, objective living conditions and degree of service utilization are associated with their perceived quality of life and, in turn, community tenure. A latent variable causal model was developed and tested using data from 152 schizophrenic and affective psychotic patients. Information was obtained using a semistructured interview, a quality of life scale, ratings on the Global Assessment Scale and patient hospital records. Results indicate that greater autonomy is significantly associated with greater perceived quality of life and that greater quality-of-life ratings are associated with greater community tenure.