Introduction: There is growing evidence that resilience is a key factor for prevention of mental disorder. Low resilience levels
were found in individuals at clinical high risk to psychosis and schizophrenia. Higher level of resilience was associated with better
functioning, less severe negative, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Low level of self stigma is associated with recovery from
schizophrenia. Aim of this paper was to determine whether resilience and self-stigma are significant predictors of mental health
recovery in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression treated in a rehabilitation-oriented program.
Subjects and methods: 51 patients diagnosed with psychoses and 53 patients with depression treated in day hospital participated
in this study. Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), The Boston University Empowerment Scale (BUES), Perceived
Devaluation and Discrimination (PDD) Scale, Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM) and Resilience questionnaire were used.
Results: Self-stigma positively correlates with PDD (r=0.44; p=0.000), and negatively with BUES (r=-0.78; p=0.000), resilience
(r=-0.51; p=0.000) and with recovery (r=-0.59; p=0.000) in two groups. In addition, a higher PDD score indicates poorer levels of
empowerment (r=-0.42; p=0.000), resilience (r=-0.35; p=0.000) and recovery (r=-0.44; p=0.000). Mental health empowerment,
resilience and recovery all correlate significantly and positively with each other. Cross-group comparison results show the best
results for patients with schizophrenia. Sociodemographic factors do not affect resilience, self-stigma nor recovery.
Conclusion: Self-stigma and resilience are connected with moderate correlation. Research supports the need for interventions
that prevent self-stigma and increase resilience in the treatment of schizophrenia patients
