Population-Based Comparison of Health-Related Quality of Life Between Healthy Subjects and Those With Specific Psychiatric or Somatic Diseases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare health‐related quality of life (HRQL) of healthy subjects and those with psychiatric or somatic diseases. DESIGN AND METHODS: Eight dimensions of the RAND 36‐Item Health Survey 1.0 (RAND‐36) were investigated in a population‐based sample. FINDINGS: Scores in all 8 RAND dimensions were lower in subjects with psychiatric diagnoses than in healthy subjects. In logistic regression models, poor social functioning (odds ratio [OR] 1.07–1.12) associated with psychiatric diagnoses. Lowered energy (OR 1.06) associated with major depression, poor general health with personality disorders (OR 1.06) and heart disease (OR 1.06), and physical limitations with heart (OR 1.04) and musculoskeletal disease (OR 1.07). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Acknowledging the lowest HRQL dimensions among subjects with psychiatric diagnoses may help to promote mental, physical, and social well‐being more efficiently.