The objective was to investigate the relationship between
pain and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with
psychosis. The study utilised a cross-sectional design including individuals with established
psychosis from five Mental Health Trusts across England. Participants were classified as having
pain or not and HRQOL was determined with the EQ-5D-3L. Covariates considered include the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. The final sample included 438 individuals with
psychosis (47.5 years, SD 10.1, 193 females (42.9%)). 160 participants reported
pain (36.5%) and compared to the non-
pain group (N=278) they had significantly higher depressive symptoms (MADRS 14.91 vs 8.68), total (51.8 vs 47.9) and general PANSS scores (26.8 vs. 23.5) and lower overall HRQOL (54.7 vs 68.3). The final regression analysis (n=387) demonstrated that lower levels of
pain were a predictor of better HRQOL (β=.173) after adjusting for the PANSS, MADRS and GAF. Depressive symptoms were the largest predictor of HRQOL (β=-.486). Only 1-2% of the sample were in receipt of
analgesic medication suggesting
pain is greatly overlooked despite its wider deleterious impact on HRQOL.