Emotional intelligence and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a critical review.

Fernanda De Marzio Pestana Martins,Elisa Brietzke,Keila Pereira Leite,Julio Ricardo De Souza Noto,Alisson Paulino Trevizol

doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2018-0001

Fernanda De Marzio Pestana Martins, Elisa Brietzke + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2237-6089-2018-0001

Copy DOI

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a theoretical construct postulated by Mayer and Salovey to designate the ability to perceive, understand, use and manage emotions. The study of EI in schizophrenia offers new insights into the disorder's cognitive and functional impacts. To comprehensively review studies analyzing EI impairment in schizophrenia spectrum disorders using standardized instruments. Searches were run on MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, LILACS, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov and SciELO databases. The only validated instrument used was the Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale (MSCEIT). Articles that used all branches of the MSCEIT to assess EI in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and healthy controls were included in the review. We found 30 articles on this topic. The studies analyzed showed a significant impairment of MSCEIT total score in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders when compared to healthy controls. In relation to the MSCEIT branches, understanding of emotions and management of emotions are the most impaired branches. Since most studies are cross-sectional, it is not possible to establish a cause and effect relationship between EI deficits and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Therefore, longitudinal studies are needed to establish a clearer relationship between these variables. By so doing, we may be able to intervene for prevention and management of these disorders, aiming at better quality of life for patients.

Highlights

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a theoretical construct postulated by Mayer and Salovey to designate the ability to perceive, understand, use and manage emotions
This was considered so important that the Emotion Management branch of the MSCEIT was included in the National Institutes of Mental Health Initiative, Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS), as the representative test of social cognition to be evaluated in clinical trials, as reported by Green et al.[5] and Nuechterlein et al.[6]
Searches were performed during October of 2017 for studies published from inception to 2017 and used the following terms for MEDLINE/PubMed: (“Emotional Intelligences” OR “Intelligence, Emotional” OR “Intelligences, Emotional” OR “Social Intelligence” OR “Intelligence, Social” OR “Intelligences, Social” OR “Social Intelligences”) AND (MSCEIT OR “Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test”) AND (“Schizophrenias” OR “Schizophrenic Disorders” OR “Disorder, Schizophrenic” OR “Disorders, Schizophrenic” OR “Schizophrenic Disorder” OR “Schizophrenia” OR “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders” OR “Schizophrenia, Paranoid” OR “Schizophrenia, Disorganized” OR “Schizophrenia, Childhood” OR “Schizophrenia, Catatonic”)

Summary

Introduction

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a theoretical construct postulated by Mayer and Salovey to designate the ability to perceive, understand, use and manage emotions. Articles that used all branches of the MSCEIT to assess EI in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and healthy controls were included in the review. According to Mayer and Salovey, emotional intelligence (EI) is a set of interrelated abilities made up of four dimensions: perception, understanding, management, and use of emotions.[1] Different explanatory concepts of EI have been translated into different instruments for assessment of this construct. Deficiency of emotional intelligence has been considered a central feature in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and a crucial determinant of functional outcomes according to Fett et al.[4] This was considered so important that the Emotion Management branch of the MSCEIT was included in the National Institutes of Mental Health Initiative, Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS), as the representative test of social cognition to be evaluated in clinical trials, as reported by Green et al.[5] and Nuechterlein et al.[6].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion