Assessment of the quality of life of patients with mental disorders using general questionnaires

Abstract

The World Health Organization has estimated that 450 million individuals live with mental disorders worldwide. In the last few years, a growing interest in research on the quality of life in chronically ill people could be observed. Further research generates new concepts and specific tools to measure the quality of life. Quality of life can be assessed using both generic and specific questionnaires. This allows for obtaining a quantitative result, which can be compared with studies in other patient populations. Currently, there are a variety of tools and questionnaires measuring the quality of life in patients, considering its various determinants. The most popular tools include Euro Quality of Life Questionnaire, Short-Form Health Survey and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. World Health Organization defines Quality of Life as an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which the patients live and concerning their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. Quality of life is increasingly used for the characterisation of disease and estimation the therapeutic efficiency. Evaluation and planning of activities designed to improve and maintain the patient’s quality of life require a holistic approach, taking into account psychological and medical aspects of the patient’s life. Several studies have shown that in the case of individuals with mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders, the assessment of quality of life is not only possible, but also desirable and even necessary.