Quality of Life of People with Schizophrenia Compared to Controls: A Case- Control Study

Author(s): Abraha Gosh Woldemariam, Gloria Thupayagale-Tshweneagae.

Background: Studies are reporting that quality of life of people with schizophrenia is lower than the general population. However, there is scarcity of evidences regarding the quality of life of people with schizophrenia as compared to healthy people in developing countries particularly in Ethiopia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life of people with schizophrenia in comparison to healthy controls. Design and Methods: About 140 respondents were conveniently selected and recruited in this case-control study from Adare General Hospital in which 37 respondents were people with schizophrenia (cases), while 103 respondents were healthy controls. Scores of quality of life of cases and controls were compared using Mean-Rank and Mann-Whitney U test and p-value less than 0.05 were taken as significant value.

Results: Findings of the present study demonstrated that respondents with schizophrenia (cases) have significantly lower scores of Physical component summary (U=70.5, z=-8.685, p<.001, r=-.734), and Mental component summary (U=79.0, z=-8.634, p<.001, r=-.730). scores of quality of life of schizophrenia patients were also lower on Physical functioning (U=310, z=-9.553, p<.001, r=-.808), Role Physical (U=419, z=-8.975, p<.001, r=-.759), Body pain (U=1395.5, z=-3.501, p<.001, r=-.296), General health (U=320, z=-7.514, p<.001, r=-.635), Vitality (U=353, z=-7.398, p<.001, r=-.625), Social functioning (U=213.5, z=-9.398 p<.001, r=-.794), Role emotion (U=144.5, z=-9.985, p<.001, r=-.844) and Mental health (U=178, z=-8.199, p<.001, r=-.693) domains than controls (non-cases).

Conclusion and Recommendation: The researcher had concluded that Schizophrenia patients in Ethiopia have significantly lower quality of life compared to healthy controls. Additional measures are required to improve patients’ functionality and quality of life.