Abstract: Objective To explore the predictive factors of mental disability severity in patients with schizophrenia. Methods General information questionnaires, WHO Disability Rating Scale Ⅱ, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, Social Support Scale, Family APGAR, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Self-esteem Scale, Mini-mental State Evaluation and Morisky's Medication Adherence Questionnaire were used to investigate 393 mental disabled patients with schizophrenia. Statistical analysis was performed using independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Results Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that cognitive function (β=-0.283), social support (β=-0.251), and self-esteem (β=-0.226) were predictive factors of mental disability severity in patients with schizophrenia (P<0.001), which accounted for 28.2% of the variation in disability scores. Conclusion Social support, self-esteem, and cognitive function can predict the severity of disability in patients with schizophrenia. It is recommended that clinical nurses provide targeted psychological interventions for the prevention of aggravation of disability in patients with schizophrenia based on medication treatment, and reduce the severity of disability through rehabilitation training such as cognitive training, self-care training, and social skills training thus to improve the quality of life of patients and help them to be reintegrated with the society.

Key words: schizophrenia, disability, severity, predictive factor