Subjective quality of life and its predictors among people with early psychosis in central Vietnam: a short-term longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Subjective quality of life (sQOL) has become an established outcome indicator in psychosis research, but longitudinal studies from developing countries remain scarce. This study aimed to examine sQOL, its short-term course and its predictors among people with early psychosis in central Vietnam. Community-dwelling individuals with early psychosis and their relatives were recruited via public health facilities for a naturalistic 6 month longitudinal study. The WHO Quality of Life-Bref and other standardized assessments were administered to 77 patients at baseline and 56 at follow-up. Average sQOL levels were found to be moderate across all key domains, but individuals who reported good QOL were in the minority. Negative appraisals in the environment domain, particularly in terms of money, were more common than in other QOL areas. Although level of community functioning improved significantly over the 6 month period, mean sQOL scores remained unchanged. Generalized estimating equation models revealed that more social support, being unmarried, and absence of dysphoria and negative symptoms were significantly associated with better sQOL in most domains. In summary, functional improvement may not necessarily result in enhanced sQOL for individuals with early psychosis in this setting. Local socioeconomic factors appeared to be among the most important influences on subjective wellbeing.