Dr. Canceil began his presentation by explaining the concept of quality of life. This multidimensional concept refers to objective life conditions and their subjective perceptions about work, social and familial interactions, feelings of well being, and psychological characteristics.

Dr. Canceil assessed the quality of life of 145 schizophrenic outpatients with an average age of 35 years. Diagnoses were made using standardized interviews such as the CIDI or DIGS-II according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria. Of the patients enrolled in the study, 87% were diagnosed with schizophrenia and 13% with schizoaffective disorder. The participants were divided into two matched groups: one group (of 45 patients) had been ill for five years or less; another group (of 100 patients) had been ill for more than five years. When the study began, 93% of patients were receiving typical antipsychotics, clozapine, or atypical antipsychotics other than clozapine.

Patients were evaluated twice--once when they entered the study and again two years later. Objective life conditions, sociodemographic information, and therapeutic data were obtained from a questionnaire. Quality of life was assessed using the social adjustment scale and the socio-occupational functioning adjustment scale. Clinical dimensions were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

Results indicate quality of life scores improved when patients exhibited fewer negative symptoms. Quality of life and social adjustment were strongly influenced by intensity of the illness, as well as by negative symptomatology and the duration of illness upon entry into the study. At follow-up two years later, more patients than at baseline reported improved quality of life, as indicated by increased employment and fewer psychiatric visits. Patients treated with atypical antipsychotics reported better social adjustment than did patients treated with other medications, both upon entry to the study and at two-year follow-up.