Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functioning are associated with outcomes in schizophrenia; however, there is heterogeneity in measured HRQOL and functioning concepts and incongruence among raters (patients, caregivers, and physicians). This study aimed to explore the meaning and relevance to patients and caregivers of the concepts measured in two commonly used measures of HRQOL and functioning in schizophrenia: the clinician-administered Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS) and the patient-rated Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics–Short Form (SWN-S). Interviews with adults with schizophrenia (n=12) and focus groups with caregivers (n=17) were conducted to assess the meaning and importance of concepts from these measures. For both patients and caregivers, the Intrapsychic Foundations domain of the QLS and the Mental Functioning domain of the SWN-S were identified as the most important contributors to patient HRQOL and functioning. General congruence was observed in patients’ and caregivers’ interpretations of the concepts on both measures.
