The highest possible score The lowest possible score Differences in social competence self-assessment of patients diagnosed with depression due to the form of treatment Mirta Vranko¹², Petra Hruškar¹, Irena Velimirović², Petrana Brečić¹ ¹ University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Department of Affective Disorders, Croatia ² University of Zagreb, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, doctoral student Introduction Objectives The aim of this paper is to observe and evaluate social competence of patients diagnosed with depression taking into account their views and perceptions of their own social competence due to the form of treatment (acute treatment, sociotherapy or daily hospital treatment). Social competence is part of emotional intelligence that refers to the effective functioning in the social context. Depressive disorders are often associated with significantly disrupted social functioning. Stump et al. (2009) suggest Dodge's (1985) definition, according to which social competence is a multidimensional construct that includes interpersonal relationships, frequency of interaction, a positive self-concept and social and cognitive skills. In this context it is interesting to reflect on those suffering from depression that actively participate in different social contexts and form a part of urban culture. The results point out the need of strengthening social competence in different contexts. It is expected that participants involved in outpatient treatment and daily hospitals will award more points on the given scale of social competence and therefore have higher scores, and will also percieve their own social competence as better.   n M SD Min Max The highest possible score The lowest possible score Acute treatment 24 86.6 7.43 71 94 134 67 Sociotherapy treatment 88.4 6.32 74 103 Daily treatment 26 84.4 6.06 73 101 Materials and Method Study was conducted during April 2016, and Social Competence Scale (SCS) was used. Scale consists of 67 variables that have been divided into the following categories: Conclusion Anger Control Disagreeing appropriately Coping with stress Recognition and expression of emotions Listening Reasoning and expression of dissent Empathy Taking responsability Self – presentation Communicative skills Appreciation of diversity Goal setting Problem solving Although it was expected that the patients involved in daily hospital tretmant will achieve higher scores on SCS, results showed that there is no significantly difference inn social competence of patients included in three different form of treatment (acute treatment, sociotherapy, daily hospital treatment). Data indicates a need for further investment in empowerment of patients’ social competence, because regardless of the stage and type of treatment, patients achieve relatively low scores on the scale of social competence. Sample The study was conducted on a sample of 112 patients involved in some form of treatment at the University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, during April 2016. The sample consists of 29% men and 85% women. The age range of the respondents is between 23 and 75 (M = 45.34). The largest percentage of respondents have completed high school (62.4%), then the following college (17.9%), and graduated (12%). The smallest percentage of respondents has completed primary school (4.3%), and no educated at all (0.9%). The most common form of treatment is a sociotherapeutic treatment (57.3%), while the rest of the respondents are involved in daily treatment (22.2%), or in acute treatment (20.5%) The highest overall score on a SCS that can be achieved is 134, while the lowest is 67. Data are processed in SPSS – 20, using descriptive statistics. References Stump et al. (2009). Theories of Social Competence from the Top – Down to the Bottom – Up: A Case for Considering Foundational Human Needs. (in) Matson, J. (2009). Social Behavior and Skills in Children, 23 - 37. New York: Springer - Verlag Results The data indicate a relatively low level of self-assessment in social competence in all three forms of treatment. The highest value is achieved by patients involved in sociotherapy, but because of the larger sub-samples in relation to the overall pattern that can not be seen as a significantly higher value. Contact Mirta Vranko, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, mirta.vranko@bolnica-vrapce.hr Petra Hruškar, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, petra.hruskar@yahoo.com Irena Velimirović, University of Zagreb, Faculty for Education and Rehabilitaton Sciences irenevelimirovic@gmail.com Doc. dr. sc. Petrana Brečić, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, petrana.brecic@bolnica-vrapce.hr Presented on International Symposium „Health for All?! Mental health”, Rijeka, Croatia, May, 6th 2016