Recovering Quality of Life in Outpatients with First-Episode Psychosis
Poster A43, Monday, October%208, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom
Yi Chian Chua1, Horng Hien Wong1, Edimansyah Abdin1, Laxman Cetty1, Shazana Shahwan1, Charlene Xue Lin Hon1, Yee Huei Yong1, Helen May Eng Lee1, Mythily Subramaniam1, Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar1, Swapna Kamal Verma1; 1Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
There is a dearth of literature on wellbeing as an outcome, measured through the perspective of service users. The present study thus aimed to investigate recovering quality of life (ReQoL) and its sociodemographic correlates among a sample of outpatients receiving treatment at an early psychosis intervention programme in a tertiary mental health institution in Singapore. The ReQoL-10 is a relatively new self-rated 10-item measure that has been designed specifically for use in a mental health setting, as compared to conventional QoL scales. Participants (n = 150) presented with a primary diagnosis of first-episode psychosis and completed a questionnaire containing the ReQoL-10 measure and sociodemographic information. The age of the sample ranged from 16 to 41, with a mean (SD) of 27.1 (6.15) years. The ReQoL-10 scores ranged from 12 to the maximum 40 with a mean (SD) of 28.7 (6.95), and the instrument demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89). No missing or pattern answers were observed. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that age (B = 0.247, p = 0.008) and being female (B = 2.461, p = 0.029) significantly predicted ReQoL scores, after controlling for other sociodemographic variables. While females do have better prognosis than males, a possible explanation for the effect of age is that older adults with a first psychotic episode may be better equipped to cope with the onset of the illness. The ReQoL measure should also be included in future studies to provide an additional dimension to the understanding and operationalization of recovery.
Topic Area: First Episode Psychosis