To study the structure of psychological adaptation in patients with schizophrenia in comparative aspect depending on duration of a disease 140 persons were examined. 97 schizophrenia patients with the first psychotic episode are the basic group (average age 31,88 + 8,06 years), 43 schizophrenia patients (average age 40,37 + 9,55 years) with more than 5 years duration of process are in the comparison group. Methods of investigation: clinical-psychopathological, pathopsychological (Heim’s questionnaire - coping diagnostics, “Life style index” questionnaire, “Self-stigmatization” questionnaire), statistical (Student T-criterion). It has been established along schizophrenia chronisation psychological defence structure protection gains the most disadaptive and pathoprotective content. On schizophrenia patients with the First Psychotical Episode (FPE) “negation”, “compensation”, “reactive formation” dominates. In the comparison group “negation”, “regression”, “replacement”, “reactive formations” are the leading factors, and the level of intensity considerably increasing. The level of self-stigmatization increases, its dominating form changes: rate shift of autopsychotic and socioreversive form of self-stigmatization to the compensatory and socioreversive forms. The use frequency of adaptive coping-mechanisms in behavioral and cognitive spheres by schizophrenia patients with the FPE is more than the use level of relatively adaptive and no adaptive coping-strategies. In emotional sphere relatively adaptive coping-strategies dominate. On duration of the disease (more than 5 years) relatively adaptive and (or) no adaptive copings become dominative in the coping structure of all three spheres, but the use level of adaptive coping-strategies considerably decreases.