Abstract
Quality of life in patients with schizophrenia is an assessment criterion, which reflects an adaptation to this illness and enables to verify the effectiveness and success of various types of therapeutic interventions. Although initially expected that quality of life is deteriorating up during illness, most studies have confirmed a worse outcome in quality of life already since the first-episode schizophrenia, which negatively affects the functional adaptation of patients and reduces the likelihood of recovery.
Among the most frequently detected correlates of reduced quality of life are negative and depressive symptoms, impaired social cognition, good insight, self-stigma and duration of untreated psychosis. Patients diagnosed with first episode schizophrenia should be offered adequate and comprehensive programme as soon as possible, including interventions increasing quality of life, such as family psychoeducation, social skills training and proper treatment of depressive symptoms.