QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HOSPITALIZED AND NON HOSPITALIZED SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS

Treating the schizophrenic disorders enhances patient''''s quality of life. However psychopathology and side effects of medication used to treat schizophrenia often have adverse side effects that decrease functioning, increase stigmatizing involuntary movements and impaired ability to interact socially, this may lead to the quality of life of schizophrenic logged behind. So this study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting quality of life among schizophrenic patients. The study was conducted on 200 schizophrenic patients; 100 from inpatient and the rest from the outpatient clinic at Banha  Hospital for mental health. Four tools were used for data collection: one to assess demographic and disease characteristics, one to measure quality of life, one to assess abnormal involuntary movements, and one to assess positive and negative symptoms. Results revealed that, the total mean score of positive and negative symptoms scale  and abnormal involuntary movement scale  had higher in outpatient than inpatient group, while total mean score of quality of life had higher in inpatient than outpatient group, there is a strongly, negative significant relation between total abnormal involuntary movement scale, total positive and negative symptoms and sum of quality of life. There is a strongly positive and significant relation between total positive and negative symptoms and sum of abnormal involuntary movements scale. It is recommended that, ensuring quality of life among schizophrenic patients by setting the appropriate standered of quality of life and enhancing the responsibilities placed on the health care professionals and the community