Self-derogation relates significantly to the severity of psychopathology regardless of how it is measured. This study examined 152 patients and ex-patients from two community mental health catchment areas two years after their first admission, as well as 97 outpatients beginning therapy. Included were indices of diagnostic severity; overall health/sickness; psychotic, neurotic, affective, schizophrenic or suicidal symptomatology; and reported distress. Neurotic and affective symptomatology and overall health/sickness were most highly related to self-derogation. These findings point to the need to recognize and treat low self-esteem in psychopathological states other than depression. Self-derogation may prove to be a prognostic marker for these patients, since it relates to social and employment functioning as well as to symptom intensity. (BN)