The work behavior inventory: A scale for the assessment of work behavior for clients with severe mental illness

Method: Patients presenting for the first time to a psychiatric service who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizophreniform psychosis were included. Assessments included; Quality of Life Scale (QLS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnosis (SCID). Duration of untreated psychosis was ascertained by interviews with the patients and their family members (Beiser scale) . Results: Forty six pat ients (35M,llF) with a mean age of 25.6 years (sd 7.6) were included in the study. Mean total QLS score was 60.8 (sd 23.0). The mean total PANSS score was 92.2 (sd 18.6) and the mean GAF score was 19.9 (sd 6.4) . Multiple stepwise regression indicated that QLS was independent of gender and age but, was significantly (p =0.04) related to duration of untreated illness and the presence of an Axis II diagnosis (p=O.04). There was some evidence (p=0.08S) of an association with PANSS score. Conclusion: Quality of life among first presentation schizophrenia/schizophreniform patients is largely determined by the amount of time that elapses between onset and presentation for treatment.