A history of health-related quality of life outcomes in psychiatry

• Published in: Dialogues in clinical neuroscience 2014-06, Vol.16 (2), p.127-135
• Main Authors: Revicki, Dennis A., Kleinman, Leah, Cella, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: health-related quality of life; Humans; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); patient-reported outcome; psychiatric outcome; psychiatric symptom; Psychiatry; Quality of Life; Self Report; State of the Art; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1958-5969; 1294-8322; 1958-5969
• DOI: 10.31887/DCNS.2014.16.2/drevicki

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept that includes subjective reports of symptoms, side effects, functioning in multiple life domains, and general perceptions of life satisfaction and quality. Rather than estimating it from external observations, interview, or clinical assessment, it is best measured by direct query. Due to a perception that respondents may not be reliable or credible, there has been some reluctance to use self-report outcomes in psychiatry. More recently, and increasingly, HRQoL assessment through direct patient query has become common when evaluating a range of psychiatric, psychological, and social therapies. With few exceptions, psychiatric patients are credible and reliable reporters of this information. This article summarizes studies that highlight the development, validation, and application of HRQoL measures in psychiatry. Thoughtful application of these tools in psychiatric research can provide a much-needed patient perspective in the future of comparative effectiveness research, patient-centered outcomes research, and clinical care.