Background. Subjective quality of life (SQOL) is increasingly gaining attention in psychiatric practice and research. To date, few studies have examined the SQOL in outpatients with schizophrenia in China. / Conclusions. Despite considerable differences between the two sites in terms of socio-cultural background, health care delivery and the economic conditions of the subjects, the SQOL did not differ significantly between HK and BJ. SQOL was more strongly related to the severity of depressive symptoms and had only weak association with socio-demographic factors. / Method. In the psychiatric outpatient services of two university-affiliated teaching hospitals in BJ and HK, 522 (264 in BI and 258 in HK) clinically stable outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (age: 18-60 years) were randomly selected according to the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. The two samples were matched according to age, sex, educational level, and length of illness. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was confirmed on the basis of a chart review followed by a diagnostic interview on both sites by the candidate. Socio-demographic data were collected and clinical characteristics including psychotic and depressive symptoms, drug-induced extrapyramidal side effects (EPS), and SQOL were assessed by the candidate. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the SQOL and its four domains between the two sites after controlling for the effect of the clinical condition of the subjects. Bi-variate correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between SQOL and socio-demographic and clinical data. / Objectives of the study. This study compared SQOL in schizophrenia patients living with their families in Hong Kong (HK) and Beijing (BI) and explored the relationship between SQOL and socio-demographic and clinical factors. / Results. There was no significant difference in SQOL and its domains between the two cohorts after controlling for the effect of other confounding variables. Length of illness, history of suicide attempts, positive, negative, depressive and anxiety symptoms and EPS were all significantly correlated with SQOL. Multiple regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms predicted all SQOL domains while positive symptoms predicted the psychological, the social relationship and environmental SQOL domains. Married status predicted the social relationship SQOL domain and length of illness predicted the environmental SQOL domain. / Xiang Yu-tao. / "October 2006." / Advisers: G. S. Ungvari; W. K. Tang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-08, Section: B, page: 5131. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-122). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.