Perceived functioning, well-being and psychiatric symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia treated with long-acting risperidone for 1 year.
BACKGROUND
The extent to which antipsychotics improve patients' well-being is uncertain.


AIMS
To examine psychopathology and patient-rated functioning and well-being in patients treated with risperidone.


METHOD
In a 1-year, open-label, international multicentre trial of long-acting risperidone in 615 stable adult patients with schizophrenia, self-rated functioning and well-being were measured every 3 months using the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Psychopathology was quantified using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).


RESULTS
Significant improvements were found on the SF-36 mental component summary score and vitality and social functioning scales. PANSS and mental component summary scores were moderately correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient-reported functioning and well-being appear to differ from investigator-rated psychotic symptoms. Patient-rated well-being should be assessed with symptoms to help measure treatment outcomes.