Predicting subjective quality of life and illness impact for individuals with schizophrenia using the Five-Factor Model of personality: A starting point for future research

Abstract

Many different factors can be used to predict the number and magnitude of disruptions to functioning and subjective quality of life that any given person with schizophrenia may experience. Most of the available research has investigated biological, genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental predictors of illness impact, but comparatively little has been done to establish personality as a predictive factor. However, given that personality is known to be associated with schizophrenia, and is an established predictor of general health outcomes, this gap in the literature is concerning. The research which does look at personality as a predictive factor for subjective quality of life disturbances and illness impact in individuals with schizophrenia has been promising, but too many unanswered questions exist for any reliable predictive rules to be established. Even so, tentative links between FFM personality and suicide risk, as well as links between FFM personality and negative symptoms, have been found. This paper seeks to highlight these areas of tentative findings, with a focus on the areas of suicidality, social deficits and negative symptoms, and subjective quality of life, to guide further research.