Validation of a subjective quality of life questionnaire (S.QUA.LA) in schizophrenia

AbstractMy paper presents the results of a research study on the relationship between existential/spiritual resources, that is, spiritual sensitivity (a disposition to experience spirituality, manifested in the embracement of the nature of things in the transcendent and final perspective, in moral sensitivity, and the ability to find meaning in paradoxical and limiting situations), spiritual sensitivity components and subjective quality of life (a generalized attitude to one’s own life mode, in the four existential dimensions: psychophysical, psycho-social, subjective, and metaphysical). Study subjects were older adults (60+, n = 522) living in the current, dynamic, uncertain and fluid modern world conditions. The study had two phases – quantitative and qualitative (narrative interviews). To measure the phenomena, the Spiritual Sensitivity Inventory (Straś-Romanowska, Kowal, & Kapała, 2013) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (Straś-Romanowska, Oleszkowicz, & Frąckowiak, 2004) were used. The results obtained confirmed a strong mutual relationship between spiritual resources and quality of life, also providing an answer to some questions about the nature of spiritual sensitivity, and its integrating, pro-development and pro-health role in the elderly adults’ life in the post-modern era.

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The quality of life of patients suffering from bipolar disorder – a comparison with schizophrenic patients and healthy controls

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)71931-9 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 221-221

Author(s):

K. Latalova ◽

T. Diveky ◽

D. Kamaradova ◽

H. Velartova ◽

J. Prasko

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Clinical Remission ◽

Subjective Quality ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Subjective Quality Of Life ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Bipolar Patients

Host of studies have now examined QoL in patients with major depressive disorder and schizophrenia until recently few had specifically focused upon QoL in patients with bipolar disorder. The purpose of the present study was to find out the QoL data in patients suffering from bipolar disorder in clinical remission and examine the extent of the effects of the demographical and clinical data on QoL in these patients. The second aim was to compare the QoL data with the data of patients suffering from schizophrenia in clinical remission and with healthy controls.Data were obtained by using the quality of life questionnaire (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction - Q-LES-Q) for 41 bipolar patients in clinical remission. The data of these subjects were compared with the data of 40 schizophrenic patients in clinical remission and with 40 healthy controls.There are statistically significant difference in comparison with schizophrenic patients, but not in comparison with healthy controls. There were higher mean scores in most Q-LES-Q summary scales in patients with bipolar disorder in comparison with schizophrenic patients and in some summary scales in comparison with healthy controls.Our results suggest the same or higher subjective quality of life in patients suffering with bipolar disorder in clinical remission in comparison with healthy controls and higher subjective quality of life in bipolar patients in clinical remission in comparison with schizophrenic patients in clinical remission.Supported by grant IGA MZ ČR NT11047

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Alexithyme Patientenmerkmale und Lebensqualität – Eine Querschnittsstudie an 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen

Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie Psychologie und Psychotherapie ◽

10.1024/1661-4747/a000136 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 17-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katrin Leenen ◽

Michael Rufer ◽

Hanspeter Moergeli ◽

Hans-Jörgen Grabe ◽

Josef Jenewein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

World Health ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Fand Sich ◽

Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽

Organization Quality ◽

Health Organization ◽

Tas 20

Aus Untersuchungen in der Normalbevölkerung ist bekannt, dass Menschen mit erhöhten Alexithymiewerten eine verminderte Lebensqualität (LQ) aufweisen. Für Patienten mit psychischen Störungen wurde dieser Zusammenhang jedoch kaum untersucht. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen alexithymen Patientenmerkmalen und der LQ bei Patienten mit Angststörungen zu überprüfen. Bei 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen wurden alexithyme Charakteristika mit der Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), die LQ mit der Kurzversion des World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire 100 (WHOQOL-BREF) erfasst. Darüber hinaus fand eine Erhebung der psychischen Symptombelastung (SCL-90-R) und depressiven Symptomatik (MADRS) statt. Mittels hierarchischer Regressionsanalysen wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der alexithymen Charakteristika und den unterschiedlichen LQ-Domänen berechnet. Die Patienten zeigten eine im Vergleich zur Normalbevölkerung deutlich verminderte LQ. Als Hauptergebnis fand sich, auch nach Kontrolle von Depression, Ängstlichkeit und Geschlecht, ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen den beiden TAS-20 Subskalen Schwierigkeiten, Gefühle zu identifizieren und zu beschreiben und vor allem der psychischen LQ. Unsere Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, bei der Diagnostik und Therapieplanung von Patienten mit Angststörungen alexithyme Merkmale einzubeziehen. Im Falle von ausgeprägten alexithymen Merkmalen sollten psychotherapeutische Interventionen zur Verbesserung der Schwierigkeiten Gefühle wahrzunehmen und zu kommunizieren in Betracht gezogen werden.

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