Schizophrenia is typically a chronic disorder and among the most severe forms of serious mental illnesses in
terms of adverse impact on quality of life. Yet, there have been suggestions that some people with schizophrenia
can experience an overall sense of happiness in their lives.We investigated happiness among 72 outpatientswith
non-remitted chronic schizophrenia with a mean duration of illness of 24.4 years, and 64 healthy comparison
subjects (HCs). Despite continued treatmentwith antipsychotic medications, the individualswith schizophrenia
manifested a mild tomoderate level of psychopathology. People with schizophrenia reported lower mean levels
of happiness than HCs, but there was substantial heterogeneity within the schizophrenia group. Level of happiness
in persons with schizophrenia was significantly correlated with higher mental health-related quality of life,
and several positive psychosocial factors (lower perceived stress, and higher levels of resilience, optimism, and
personal mastery). However, level of happiness was not related to sociodemographic characteristics, duration
of illness, severity of positive or negative symptoms, physical function, medical comorbidity, or cognitive functioning.
Except for an absence of an association with resilience, the pattern of correlations of happiness with
other variables seen among HCs was similar to that in individuals with schizophrenia. Although happiness
may be harder to achieve in the context of a seriousmental illness, it nonetheless appears to be a viable treatment
goal in schizophrenia. Psychotherapies targeting positive coping factors such as resilience, optimism, and personal
mastery warrant further investigation.