Quality of life is predictive of relapse in schizophrenia

Using data from a multicenter cohort study conducted in France, Germany, and the United-Kingdom (EuroSC), we performed Cox proportional-hazards models to estimate the associations between QoL at baseline and the occurrence of relapse over a 24-month period, with adjustment for age; gender; positive, negative and general psychopathology PANSS factors; functioning (GAF); medication; side-effects; and compliance measures.Our sample consisted of 1,024 patients; 540 (53%) had at least one period of relapse, and 484 (47%) had no relapse. QoL levels were the most important features predicting relapse. We found that a higher level of QoL predicts a lower rate of relapse at 24 months: HR？=？0.82 (0.74; 0.91), p？<？0.001 for the SF36-Physical Composite Score; and HR？=？0.88 (0.81; 0.96), p？=？0.002 for the SF36-Mental Composite Score. These results were not confirmed using the QoLI: HR？=？0.91 (0.81; 1.01), p？=？0.083. To a lesser extent, older age, better functioning, and a higher compliance score also predict a lower rate of relapse at 24 months (HRs from 0.97 to 0.98; p？<？0.05).QoL, as assessed by the SF36, is an independent predictor of relapse at a 24-month follow-up in schizophrenia. This finding may have implications for future use of the QoL in psychiatry. Moreover, our findings may support the development and monitoring of complementary therapeutic approaches, such as ‘recovery-oriented’ combined with traditional mental health cares to prevent relapse.Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic mental illness that is characterized by recurrent relapses [1,2]. Relapse is disabling and distressing for the individual with schizophrenia and is associated with a progressive functional deterioration as well as worsening treatment response and clinical prognosis [3]. Moreover, relapse increases caregiver burden [4] and represents a significant economic burden on families and society [5,6]. Because the prevention of relapse is a major challenge in the care of patients with schizophrenia