Quality of life for people with schizophrenia: a literature review

Objective: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the study and evaluation of the quality of life for people with schizophrenia. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive literature review on the quality of life for people with schizophrenia who are living in the community. Method: An integrative literature review was undertaken to review literature in the field of medical/mental health in relevant databases. Results: A total of 21 studies were reviewed and categorised according to three themes identified from the literature: the quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics of people with schizophrenia; the quality of life of people with schizophrenia internationally; and the quality of life of people with schizophrenia in cross-cultural studies. Conclusion: Quality of life for people with schizophrenia depends on many factors, including cultural and econontic factors, homogeneity of the society, traditional role of the family, social support, and availability of the mental health services. Recommendations for further studies, particularly in the Arab world, are made.