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Determinants of quality of life in people with severe mental illness

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Author

Summary, in English

Objective: The objective of this article was to review some methodological issues in this field and give an overview of empirical research findings with a special focus on factors associated with or affecting subjective quality of life in people with a severe mental illness. Method: A selective review of relevant scientific literature on quality of life in severe mental illness was conducted. Results: Subjective quality of life in people with a severe mental illness is only to a lesser extent related to external life conditions. Major determinants are psychopathology, especially symptoms of depression and anxiety, and aspects of the social network. Personality related factors such as self-esteem are also influential. Comparative studies have further shown that patients in community care settings have a better subjective quality of life than patients in hospital settings. Conclusion: Efforts to improve subjective quality of life in people with severe mental illness should include a careful monitoring of depressive of and anxiety symptoms, and pay particular attention to assessment. and interventions against unmet needs. Further, such interventions should stress a strengthening of the social support of the clients. It is also important to pay attention to mediators of changes in subjective quality of life such as self-esteem, mastery, autonomy, and self-efficacy.

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

46-50

Publication/Series

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

Volume

113

Issue

Suppl. 429

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Psychiatry

Keywords

  • personality
  • social support
  • subjective quality of life
  • psychopathology
  • treatment outcome

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1600-0447