Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)©
Reviewed by the MedWorks Media Editorial Advisory Board · Last updated September 2026
The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) is a 93-item self-report measure of enjoyment and satisfaction across physical health, work, household duties, leisure, and social relationships in adults. Administration takes 20 to 30 minutes. Developed by Jean Endicott and first published in Psychopharmacology Bulletin in 1993; licensed through MedWorks Media.
Clinical Overview
The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© is a comprehensive, validated psychiatric assessment instrument developed by Dr. Jean Endicott at Columbia University. This self-administered questionnaire measures the degree of enjoyment and satisfaction experienced by individuals across multiple domains of daily functioning, providing clinicians and researchers with crucial insights into subjective well-being and functional outcomes in psychiatric populations.
The Q-LES-Q© addresses a critical gap in psychiatric assessment by quantifying quality of life beyond traditional symptom-focused measures. Available in multiple formats including the original 93-item version, short form (Q-LES-Q-SF), and abbreviated versions, this instrument captures patient-reported outcomes across physical health, feelings, work, household duties, school/coursework, leisure activities, and social relationships. The scale’s robust psychometric properties and sensitivity to treatment-related changes make it an essential tool for comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, treatment monitoring, and outcomes research in both clinical and research settings.
Scoring and Interpretation
Each Q-LES-Q item is rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Items are grouped into summary scales covering physical health, subjective feelings, work, household duties, school or coursework, leisure-time activities, social relationships, and general activities. For each domain, the raw score (the sum of its items) is converted to a percentage of the maximum possible score, giving results from 0% to 100%. Two additional single items — satisfaction with medication and overall life satisfaction — are reported separately and are not included in the domain totals. Higher percentages indicate greater enjoyment and satisfaction; the Q-LES-Q is a dimensional measure interpreted against normative data and change over time rather than a diagnostic cut-off.
Key Validation Points
- Extensive Psychometric Validation – Excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.90) and strong test-retest stability reported in the original validation study (Endicott, Nee, Harrison & Blumenthal, Psychopharmacology Bulletin 1993;29(2):321-326) and replicated across depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar populations
- Multi-Population Studies – Validated across diverse clinical samples including adults, adolescents, and pediatric populations (PQ-LES-Q), with established norms for both psychiatric patients and healthy controls
- Convergent and Discriminant Validity – Strong correlations with established quality of life measures and appropriate differentiation from symptom severity scales, confirming its unique contribution to clinical assessment
- Treatment Sensitivity – Proven responsiveness to therapeutic interventions in clinical trials, demonstrating significant sensitivity to detect improvements in quality of life following pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments
- International Recognition – Widely adopted in psychiatric research globally with translations available in multiple languages and inclusion in major clinical trial protocols
- Research Adoption – Cited across several hundred PubMed-indexed publications spanning clinical trials, outcomes research, and health economics (view current citation count on PubMed)
Primary Use Cases
- Clinical Trial Endpoint Measurement – Widely used as a secondary outcome measure in industry-sponsored trials of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers, capturing patient-reported quality-of-life data alongside primary symptom endpoints
- Treatment Response Monitoring – Longitudinal assessment of functional improvement and quality of life changes throughout psychiatric treatment, complementing traditional symptom rating scales
- Comparative Effectiveness Research – Evaluation of treatment modalities and interventions across different psychiatric conditions, supporting evidence-based practice decisions and healthcare policy development
- Clinical Practice Integration – Routine assessment tool for comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, treatment planning, and ongoing care management in both inpatient and outpatient settings
- Outcomes Research Applications – Population health studies, health economics research, and quality improvement initiatives requiring validated quality of life measurement in psychiatric populations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many items is the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© (Q-LES-Q©)?
The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© (Q-LES-Q©) contains 93 items.
How long does the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© (Q-LES-Q©) take to complete?
It typically takes 20-30 minutes to complete.
Who is the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© (Q-LES-Q©) for?
Adults with psychiatric conditions and healthy controls (ages 18+).
How do I license the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© (Q-LES-Q©)?
The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q)© (Q-LES-Q©) is available for licensing through MedWorks Media; request licensing information on this page.
Has the Q-LES-Q been used in pharmaceutical and clinical trials?
Yes. The Q-LES-Q and its short forms are among the most widely used patient-reported quality-of-life measures in psychiatry and appear as secondary outcome measures in industry-sponsored and academic clinical trials across depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Their sensitivity to treatment-related change makes them well suited to longitudinal and interventional research. Commercial and clinical-trial use is licensed directly through MedWorks Media.
Which conditions is the Q-LES-Q validated for?
The Q-LES-Q has established psychometric properties across major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar and other mood disorders, with adaptations for pediatric populations (PQ-LES-Q) and numerous translated versions. It measures enjoyment and satisfaction across domains such as physical health, subjective feelings, social relationships, and leisure.
References
Licensing Information
Professional Licensing Available
This validated psychiatric rating scale is available for licensing to qualified organizations, research institutions, and clinical practices. Our licensing agreements provide you with the legal rights to use this assessment tool in your clinical trials, research studies, or patient care programs.
Licensing includes: Scale administration rights, scoring guidelines, technical documentation, and ongoing support for proper implementation.
MedWorks Media publishes Psychopharmacology Bulletin, in which the original Q-LES-Q validation study was published (Endicott, Nee, Harrison & Blumenthal, 1993;29(2):321-326). Licensing for commercial, clinical trial, and institutional use is arranged directly with us.
Request Licensing Information
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