Quality of life in individuals with attenuated psychotic symptoms: Possible role of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and socio-cognitive impairments

Individuals with Clinical High-Risk state for Psychosis (CHR-P) are reported to exhibit impaired quality of life (QOL) similar to that observed in schizophrenia, but its determinants remain unclear. We investigated the QOL of 33 subjects with CHR-P, 45 patients with schizophrenia, and 63 healthy subjects using the Quality of Life Scale (QLS). The CHR-P and schizophrenia groups were administered the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) for socio-cognitive functions; and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for clinical symptoms. The CHR-P group was also assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. The CHR-P and schizophrenia groups had a significantly lower QLS score to the same degree compared with controls, which was predominantly associated with the SOFAS, SCoRS, and PANSS negative/general scores. For the CHR-P, the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms was also correlated with a lower QLS score. Regression analyses demonstrated that the QLS score was predicted by SOFAS (for both groups) and SCoRS (for CHR-P) scores. Our findings suggest the importance of addressing socio-cognitive dysfunctions as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms for better QOL in CHR-P.