Dimensional nosography of anxiety and mood disorders: The impact on quality of life [Nosografia dimensionale dei disturbi d'ansia e dell'umore: I'impatto sulla qualità di vita]

Aim of the study: To explore the relation between quality of life and the perception of own well-being on one hand, and the psychopathological dimension of affectivity, on the other hand, in a spectrum perspective and in a transnosographical point of view. Materials and methods: We considered 918 healthy subjects, to which we administered Q-LES-Q and spectrum questionnaires MOODS-SR, OBS-SR, SHY-SR, PAS-SR. Results: We first considered subjects with a single specific spectrum symptomatology. In the "Physical health/Activities" domain we found lower scores in subjects with a social-phobic or depressive spectrum; in the "Subjective sensations" domain we found lower scores in subjects affected by the social-phobic spectrum; in the "Work" domain we found lower scores in subjects with social-phobic and obsessive-compulsive spectrum; in the "School/ Scholastic activities" and "Spare time activities" domains all the spectra did not show differences in comparison with the absence of spectrum symptomatology, except for the mania spectrum that was associated with satisfaction levels significantly higher; in the "Social relationship" and "General activities" domains we found lower scores in subjects with social-phobic spectrum. In all the Q-LES-Q domains we found lower scores in subjects affected by four spectra. We found several and significant negative correlations between quality of life and spectrum symptomatology, especially as regards mood and social-phobic spectra. Conclusions: Our results underline the importance for clinicians and researchers to focus the attention and to aim the therapeutic intervention not only at the categorial disorder but also at the psychopathological dimensions, that may significantly compromise quality of life independent of Axis I and II disorders.