Effects of sdf-concealment on mental health levd and life quanty of the first degree relatives of the sdhizophrenia pattents

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of self-concealment on mental health state and life quality of the first degree relatives of the schizophrenia patients.Methods The physiological children and siblings of the schizophrenia patients who meet the DSM-Ⅳ criteria had been tested using Self-concealment Scale(SCS)and divided to one higher group and another lower group according to their scales.Then the results of the two groups had been compared with the scales from the testing with Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90)and General Quality of Life Inventory(GQLI)respectively.Results The scales of 186 first degree relatives of schizophrenia were 36.24±11.02,significantly higher than 29.20±8.73 of normal model(t=5.21,P＜0.01).36 were in higher group with average scales of40.57±11.64 and 27 were in lower group with average scales of 32.81±9.04(t=2.81.P＜0.01).In higher self-concealment group most factor-scales of SCL-90 except of psychotic factor were significantly higher than those of lower group(P＜0.05)while the scales of GQLI in higher group were significantly lower than those in lower group(P＜0.05P or＜0.01).The scales of SCS in the first degree relatives of schizophrenia had a positive correlation with the scales of SCL-90(correlation index 0.384,P＜0.01)and a negative correlation with the scales of GQLI(correlation index-0.336,P＜0.01).Conclusion Self-concealment level in the first degree relatives has significant effect on their mental health and life quality.Higher group leads a bad mental health and life quality than lower group. Key words: Schizophrenia; First-degree relatives; Self-concealment; Mental health; Life quality