Quality of life and illness beliefs in individuals with early psychosis

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) has become an important outcome measure in early psychosis. This study examined associations between illness beliefs (how individuals perceive their mental health problems), symptom factors and QoL in an early psychosis population. Eighty-one individuals with early psychosis completed a battery of questionnaires measuring QoL, illness perceptions, psychotic and affective symptoms. QoL was significantly associated with certain illness beliefs, namely treatment control and consequences of psychosis. Lower levels of QoL were associated with higher depression, anxiety and general psychopathology. QoL was found to be predicted by key illness beliefs. Causality has not been fully established, but these results suggest that beliefs about mental health problems may have a direct impact on outcome, and point towards possible targets for intervention, such as challenging illness-related appraisals. This is consistent with both general cognitive models of psychosis, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for this client group.