Abstract
The study describes the relationship between antipsychotic drug side effects and quality of life in a sample of individuals suffering from schizophrenia. The sample included 253 patients’ users of different Public Mental Health Services from Bolivia, Peru and Chile who were evaluated with the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS), the Simpson-Angus (SAS) and the Schizophrenia Quality of Life short version questionnaire (SQoL-18). A statistical significant correlation was found between quality of life (SQoL-18) and total scores in the BARS (ß=-2,17; p= 0,019) and SAS (ß=-1,97; p= 0,034). Socio-demographic variables, such as age (ß=-2,17; p= 0,032), education (ß=-7,14; p= 0,005), occupation (ß=-4,12; p= 0,046) and ethnicity (ß=-3,91; p= 0,035), were significant predictors of quality of life. Clinical symptoms (PANSS) also contributed significantly to the model (ß=-6,35; p= ? 0,01). As in developed countries, the side effects of antipsychotics have an influence on patients’ quality of life.
