Effect of Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Training Intervention on Interpersonal Communication Competence and Social Functioning among Patients with Depression

Abstract

Background Study group (21 male and 9 female) of adult patients with depression were offered a three-month interpersonal effectiveness skill training.Objective Determine the effect of implementing interpersonal effectiveness skills training intervention on interpersonal communication competence and social functioning among patients with depression than those who didn’t receive such intervention. Design of study: A quasi-experimental research design. Settings: The study was conducted in psychiatric outpatient clinics of the Main University Hospital of Alexandria University. Subjects: 30 patients with depression for applying the interpersonal effectiveness training intervention and30 patients with depression for control group. Tools: Three tools were used to collect the data for this study; socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule, interpersonal communication competence scale (ICCS) and social functioning scale (SFS).Results There are statistically significance differences in ICCS and SFS in total and subscales scores among study group before and after conducting interpersonal effectiveness skills intervention and vice versa is true for control group.Conclusion Patients with depression can be enhanced through interpersonal effectiveness skill training. Recommendations: Interpersonal effectiveness skills training is recommended for patients with depression as well as pharmacological treatment.