Predictors of Positive Recovery Attitudes among Patients with Schizophrenia Attending a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria

An evolving concept in recovery from mental illness dwells on the patients' perspectives towards attainment of life goals despite incomplete remission. The study aims to explore the level of recovery attitude and the possible association with socio-demographic and clinical variables. Two hundred and eighty two male and female patients' with schizophrenia were interviewed using structured instruments: Recovery Attitude Questionnaire (RAQ), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Oslo 3 Social Support Scale, Morisky Medication adherence Scale (MMAS) and Simpson and Angus Scale (SAS). Chi square analysis was used to assess for the correlates of recovery attitude and variables with significant associations were subjected to binary logistic regression analysis. Two hundred and forty two (85.8%) of the participants had positive recovery attitude and the correlates of positive recovery attitude were: being employed (χ2 = 5.702; p = 0.017), duration of illness less than one year (χ2 = 7.947; p = 0.047), nil hospital admission (χ2 = 10.75; p = 0.013), nil history of relapse (χ2 = 6.307; p = 0.012), normal to minimally ill on BPRS (χ2 =18.20; p = 0.000), high social support (χ2 = 44.72; p = 0.000) and low stigma on discrimination (χ2 = 8.173; p = 0.004), social withdrawal (χ2 = 3.613; p = 0.05) and stigma resistance subscale (χ2 = 33.36; p = 0.000). The study revealed a high level of positive recovery attitude among patients with schizophrenia with high social support being the greatest independent predictor of recovery attitude. The outcome of this study therefore draws attention to the potential benefit of programmes that strengthen the social network as well as hope inspiring activities to enhance recovery.