Transcultural study on quality of life in patients diagnosed of schizophrenia from Mexico and Spain

• Published in: Escritos de psicología Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Jarne Esparcia, Adolfo, Villaseñor Cabrera, Teresita, Guàrdia Olmos, Joan, Arroyo Medranoe, Mónica, Peró Cebollero, Maribel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2009
• ISSN: 1138-2635; 1989-3809
• DOI: 10.24310/espsiescpsi.v2i3.13381

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the differences between two samples of schizophrenic patients from two different cultural contexts. Matched by age and gender, each 40-subject sample includes patients with differential diagnosis of schizophrenia. One sample was taken from the Barcelona Hospital network (Spain) and the other one from the Hospital Civil Universitario of Guadalajara (Mexico). Several demographic and clinical variables were evaluated and the Health Related Quality of Life Scale (HRQLS) was conducted on all the subjects. The HRQLS was adapted to Spanish (Rodriguez, et al., 1995). The results confirmed the factor structure studied and they showed no special differences in the total score of the HRQLS. However, an important effect was found when analyzing the results separately for the three factors: Interpersonal Relationship (IR1), Instrumental Resources (IR2) and Intrapsychic Foundation (IF), or in the items of the Intrapsychic Foundations factor. Given these differences, it is considered that these scales can be used to carry out an exhaustive profile analysis in order to organize a personalized treatment, in comparison to the total score of the HRQLS.