Dr. Zlatka Russinova is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Director of Research at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She is a Principal Co-Investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program in Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She has directed projects exploring various aspects of recovery, such as vocational recovery and successful employment, the role of spirituality in recovery and the use of alternative therapies, and mental health practitioners’ recovery-promoting competence. Dr. Russinova has led the development and evaluation of several recovery-oriented interventions incorporating Photovoice methodology as an empowerment tool to promote proactive coping with prejudice and discrimination, engagement in vocational services, and community participation.
Areas of Expertise
- Vocational recovery and sustained employment of people with serious mental illnesses
- Psychiatric prejudice and discrimination
- The role of hope in the process of recovery from serious mental illnesses
- Mental health and rehabilitation providers’ recovery-promoting competencies
- The role of spirituality and alternative healing practices in the process of recovery
- from severe mental illnesses
- Assessment of recovery outcomes
- Community participation
Selected Publications
Russinova, Z., Bloch, P., Wewiorski, N., Shappell, H., & Rogers, E.S. (2018). Predictors of sustained employment among individuals with severe mental illness: Findings from a 5-year naturalistic longitudinal study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(9), 669-679.
Russinova, Z., Gidugu, V., Bloch, P., Restrepo-Toro, M., & Rogers, E.S. (2018). Empowering Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities to Work: Results of a Randomized Trial. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 41(3), 196-207.
Russinova, Z., Mizock, L., & Bloch, P. (2018). Photovoice as a Tool to Understand the Experience of Stigma among Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses. Stigma and Health, 3(3), 171-185.
Mizock, L., & Russinova, Z. (2018). The process of development and analysis of a Photovoice mental health intervention. SAGE Research Methods Case Studies. London: SAGE.
Florian, J., Roy, N. M., Quintiliani, L. M., Truong, V., Feng, Y., Bloch, P. P., Russinova, Z., & Lasser, K. E. (2016). Using Photovoice and Asset Mapping to Inform a Community Based Diabetes Intervention. Preventing Chronic Disease, (13) E107, 1-11.
Mizock, L., & Russinova, Z. (2016). Acceptance of mental illness: Promoting recovery among culturally diverse groups. New York: Oxford University Press USA.
Rogers, E. S., Russinova, Z., Maru, M., Restrepo-Toro, M., Cook, K. F., & Rogers, J. D. (2015). Assessing Recovery-Promoting Competencies of Providers Serving Latinos with Serious Mental Illnesses. Journal of Latino Psychology, 3(4), 239-257.
Quintiliani, L., Russinova, Z., Bloch, P., Truong, V., Xuan, Z., Pbert, L., & Lasser, K. (2015). Patient navigation and financial incentives to promote smoking cessation in an underserved primary care population: A randomized controlled trial protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 45, Part B, 449-457.
Mizock, L., & Russinova, Z., & DeCastro, S. (2015). Recovery Narrative Photovoice: Feasibility of a writing and photography intervention for serious mental illnesses. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38(3), 279-282.
Mizock, L., & Russinova, Z. (2015). Intersectional stigma and the acceptance process of women with mental illness. Women & Therapy, 38(1-2), 14-30.
Mizock, L., Russinova, Z., & Millner, U. (2014). Barriers and facilitators to the acceptance process for individuals with mental illness. Qualitative Health Review, 24(9), 1265-1275.
Mizock, L., Russinova, Z., & Shani, R. (2014). New roads paved on losses: Analysis of Photovoice for recovery from mental illness. Qualitative Health Review, 24(11), 1481-1491.
Mizock, L., Russinova, Z., & Millner, U. (2014). Acceptance of Mental Illness: Core Components of a Multifaceted Construct. Psychological Services, 11(1), 97-104.
Moran, G., Russinova, Z., Yim, J.Y., & Sprague, C. (2014). Motivations of persons with psychiatric disabilities to work in mental health peer services: A qualitative study using Self-determination theory. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 24(1), 32-41.
Russinova, Z., Rogers, E. S., Gagne, C., Bloch, P., Drake, K., & T., Mueser. K. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of a peer-run anti-stigma photovoice intervention. Psychiatric Services, (65)2, 242-246.
Mizock, L., & Russinova, Z. (2013). Racial and ethnic cultural factors in the acceptance process among individuals in recovery from serious mental illness. Rehabilitation counseling Bulletin, 56(4), 229-239.
Moran, G., Russinova, Z., Gidugu, V., & Gagne, C. (2013). Challenges experienced by paid peer providers in mental health recovery: A qualitative study. Community Mental Health Journal, 49, 281-291.
Russinova, Z., Rogers, E.S., Cook, K., Ellison, M.L., & Lyass, A. (2013). Conceptualization and measurement of mental health providers’ recovery-promoting competence: The Recovery Promoting Relationships Scale (RPRS). Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 36(1), 7-14.
Russinova, Z., Rogers, E.S., Ellison, M.L., Bloch, P., Lyass, A. & Wewiorski (2013). Predictors of financial self-sufficiency among Social Security beneficiaries with psychiatric disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 38(1), 49-66.
Moran, G., Russinova, Z., & Stepas, K. (2012). Toward understanding the impact of occupational characteristics on the recovery and growth processes of peer-providers. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 35(5), 376-380.
Moran, G., Russinova, Z., Gidugu, V., Yim, J.Y., & Sprague, C. (2012). Benefits and mechanisms of recovery among peer-providers with psychiatric illnesses. Qualitative Health Research, 22(3), 304-319.
Mizock, L., Millner, U., & Russinova, Z. (2012). Spiritual and religious issues in psychotherapy with schizophrenia: History, culture, and practice. Religions, 3(1), 82-98.
Russinova, Z., Griffin, S., Bloch, P., Wewiorski, N.J., & Rosoklija, I. (2011). Workplace prejudice and discrimination toward individuals with mental illnesses. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 35(4), 1-15.
Russinova, Z., Rogers, E.S., Ellison, M.L., & Lyass, A. (2011). Recovery-promoting professional competencies: Perspectives of mental health consumers, consumer-providers and providers. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 34(3), 177-185.
MacDonald -Wilson, K., Russinova, Z., Rogers, E. S., Lin, C.H., Ferguson, T, Dong, S., & Kash MacDonald, M. (2010). Disclosure of mental health disabilities in the workplace. In: Handbook of Job Accommodation and Retention in Mental Health (191-217). I. Z. Schultz & E. S. Rogers, Eds. New York: Springer.
Russinova, Z., Prout, T., Wewiorski, N., Cash, D.J., Stepas, K., & Lyass, A. (2009). Use of prayer by persons with serious mental illnesses: Patterns and perceived benefits. Counseling and Spirituality, 28(2), 59-82.
Russinova, Z., Cash, D., & Wewiorski, N. (2009). Toward understanding the usefulness of complementary and alternative medicine for individuals with serious mental illnesses: A classification of perceived benefits. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 197(1), 69-73.
Ellison, M.L., Russinova, Z., Lyass, A., & Rogers, E.S. (2008). Professionals and managers with severe mental illness: Findings from a national study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 196(3), 179-189.
Russinova, Z., Bloch, P.P., & Lyass, A. (2007), Patterns of employment among individuals with mental illness in vocational recovery. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 45(12), 48-54.
Russinova, Z., & Cash, D. (2007). Personal perspectives about the meaning of religion and spirituality among persons with serious mental illnesses. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 30(4), 271-285.
Hutchinson, D. S., Gagne, C., Bowers, A., Russinova, Z., Skrinar, G. S., & Anthony, W. A. (2006). A framework for health promotion services for people with psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 241-250.
Ellison, M. L., Russinova, Z., Massaro, J., & Lyass, A. (2005). People with schizophrenia employed as professionals and managers: initial evidence and exploration. Schizophrenia Research, 76(1), 123-125.
Ellison, M. L., Russinova, Z., MacDonald-Wilson, K. L., & Lyass, A. (2003). Patterns and correlates of workplace disclosure among professionals and managers with psychiatric conditions. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 18(1), 3-13.
Russinova, Z., Wewiorski, N., & Cash, D. J. (2002). Use of alternative health care practices by persons with serious mental illness: Perceived benefits. American Journal of Public Health, 92(10), 1600-1603.
Russinova, Z., Wewiorski, N., Lyass, A., Rogers, E. S., & Massaro, J. (2002). Correlates of vocational recovery for persons with schizophrenia. International Review of Psychiatry, 14(4), 303-311.
Russinova, Z. (1999). Providers’ hope-inspiring competence as a factor optimizing psychiatric rehabilitation outcomes. Journal of Rehabilitation, 65(4), 50-57.