Quality of life of schizophrenia patients of Aymaran ethnic background in the north of Chile

Objective: To describe the quality of life of patients of Aymaran descent with schizophrenia and analyse the differences with patients of non-Aymaran descent.

Method: The study included 45 patients who attended the Mental Health Services in Arica, Chile. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Seville Quality of Life Questionnaire (SQoLQ) were used.

Results: The patients of the study showed moderate quality of life levels, with a strong association with the negative syndrome and the general psychopathology of the disorder. No significant differences were found in the quality of life dimensions as regards ethnic background.

Conclusions: The results found demonstrate that the integration of patients in the Community Health Services is positively associated as regards their quality of life. The integration of the caregivers is considered essential in the treatments administered.