SCHIZOPHRENIA AND FAMILY QUALITY OF LIFE
This study compares the family quality of life (FQOL) in 53 families of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia, treated as outpatients at the time of assessment, with the FQOL of 45 families where no members are diagnosed with any chronic illness (control group). The sampling was random. An informant from each family underwent a structured face to face interview, using a questionnaire specially adapted from Family Quality of Life Survey, an instrument widely used to assess FQOL in families with members with disabilities, and which addresses nine domains of family life (health, financial well-being, family relationships, support from others, support from services, influence of values, careers, leisure and recreation, and community integration). The instrument features two outcome measures (attainment and satisfaction) and four explanatory measures (importance, opportunities, initiative, and stability) of family quality of life in each of the nine domains. This study provides preliminary evidence about the family burden of chronic mental illness in the context of BosnianHerzegovinian health and mental health services, also inquiring about the unmet needs of these patients. Findings are discussed along with the drawbacks of the approach and the recommendations for further studies.