Assessment of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers in selected Central and Eastern European countries: A literature review

• Published in: Journal of health policy & outcomes research no. 1; pp. 76 - 92
• Main Authors: Szkultecka-Dębek, Monika, Walczak, Jacek, Augustyńska, Joanna, Miernik, Katarzyna, Stelmachowski, Jarosław, Pieniążek, Izabela, Obrzut, Grzegorz, Pogroszewska, Angelika, Paulic, Gabrijela, Maric, Damir, Antolic, Sinisa, Pecenak, Jan, Tavčar, Rok, Indrikson, Andra, Aadamsoo, Kaire, Jankovic, Slobodan, Pulay, Atilla J., Rimay, Jozsef, Varga, Marton, Sulkova, Ivana, Verzun, Petra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 02-09-2015
• ISSN: 2299-1247; 2299-1247
• DOI: 10.7365/JHPOR.2015.1.8

Background: To investigate the impact of schizophrenia on quality of life (QoL) of patients and caregivers in seven CEE countries, by conducting a literature search. Methods: Search was performed in publicly available databases to identify publications from 1995 to 2012 related to schizophrenia and QoL. Publications included those describing health-related QoL data of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Results: Out of an initial search of 2882 abstracts, 1587 were excluded based on duplication or preliminary screening of titles, and a further 1550 publications were excluded based on screening of the abstracts (1510) or full-texts (40). Thus, 37 primary publications related to QoL of patients with schizophrenia and caregivers were identified. Due to differences observed in the identified studies, it was not possible to make direct comparisons nor to pool data for analysis. However, it was consistently reported that schizophrenia greatly affected the QoL of patients and had a significant negative impact on the QoL of caregivers, such that their QoL was considered similar to the patients themselves. In addition, patients with schizophrenia experienced significant stigmatization and discrimination. In general, the presence of negative symptoms was not well-documented in the literature and available antipsychotics had limited impact on the treatment of negative symptoms. Conclusion: Schizophrenia significantly reduces QoL of patients and their caregivers. Further research is needed to better understand the drivers of impaired QoL caused by schizophrenia, in particular the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and how best the burden of illness and associated stigmatization and discrimination may be reduced.