OBJECTIVES

: There has been no systematic review evaluating the identified association between outcomes (clinical, functional, adherence, societal burden) and QoL (generic or disease specific questionnaires) or HCRU (hospitalization days, hospital visits) in schizophrenia or treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of published data on the relationship between outcomes and HCRU or QoL.

METHODS

: A protocol was developed and executed to identify articles in Embase and Medline reporting the association between outcomes and QoL or HCRU. Abstracts were screened independently by two researchers with disagreements resolved by a third. Reasons for exclusion were documented. The same process was followed for full-text screening. Data describing population, methods, outcomes and associations were extracted. A summary table was developed to illustrate the direction (+/-), association (p-value) and strength (correlation/regression coefficients).

RESULTS

: CONCLUSIONS

: The evidence suggests that the PANSS is the clinical outcome that provides the strongest evidence of robust associations to HCRU and QoL endpoints within schizophrenia. Conclusions for associations specifically in TRS could not be drawn due to the limited information.