2.1. Humanistic dimensions of schizophrenia
The humanistic burden of schizophrenia involves several dimensions
of life. Since no studies have documented the key dimensions
to determine the overall schizophrenia humanistic
burden, we have referred to experts’ opinion. Experts suggested
focusing on quality of life, depression, treatment side effects, family
or caregiver burden, cognitive functioning and social impairment,
mortality, suicide, homelessness, morbidity, stigmatisation,
violence, and lifestyle, including abuse, physical performance and
abortion/pregnancy. Most of these dimensions are overlapping, and
all are linked. For example impaired cognitive functioning can lead
to stigma and lack of empowerment, which may lead to depression,
causing physical, emotional and economic distress that is likely to
negatively affect a patient’s quality of life and ultimately to provoke
suicide in some cases. In this paper, dimensions will be described
separately but these overlaps will be taken into account.