OBJECTIVES: This work was proposed as a pilot survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that overweight and obesity have an impact on the quality of life of schizophrenic patients and are consequently associated with a loss of productivity.

METHODS: An ad hoc questionnaire was developed for the pilot analysis. The questionnaire was developed trying to maintain a limited number of items and addressing all the relevant themes based on literature. A second questionnaire, addressed to the caregiver, was developed to detect both the loss of productivity specifically related to aspects connected to the patient's weight and, in general, to the pathology. For the evaluation of indirect costs, reference was made to the Human Capital Approach, which consists in measuring the loss of productivity in terms of profit deficit linked to the loss of production caused by the disease.

RESULTS: To date, the sample is characterized by 30 patients. 69% of patients were overweight (45%) or obese (24%). 62.1% of respondents discontinued drug treatment for fear of gaining weight and 4% indicated reducing therapy as an aid in weight management. The quality of life was rated on average 5.3 on a scale of 1 to 10: it was rated as low from 71% of obese patients, 33% of overweight patients and 22% of normal weight patients. As regards costs, an overall average cost per patient belonging to the sample was estimated to be € 3,313.44. The largest share (75%) is attributable to social security costs. This is followed by indirect costs (17%), direct costs borne by the patient (7%) and finally direct costs borne by the National Health Service.

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of obesity among individuals with schizophrenia is associated with low levels of QOL that may cause poor adherence or premature discontinuation of treatment.