Abstract
Background: An emotional intelligence (EI) deficit has been noticed in euthymic bipolar spectrum disorder (BD) patients. However, whether this deficit is affected by mood or subtype is unclear.Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate whether an EI deficit is mood-dependent, and which mood symptoms have more impact on EI in BD.Methods: Two hundred and thirty participants aged between 18 and 65 years old were recruited [130 BD patients (51 bipolar I disorder (BDI) and 79 bipolar II disorder (BDII): 39.2% males; 91 healthy controls (HCs): 48.4% males)]. The Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), which contains experiential and strategic EI ratings, was used to assess social cognition. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Young's Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were used for evaluating the severity [HAMD and YMRS scores ≦7 were euthymic (BDeut) and HAMD YMRS sores ≧8 were episodic (BDepi)]. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed, with adjustment for background information between the BD patients and HCs.Results: The results showed that, compared to the HCs, the BDeut patients showed no difference in any MSCEIT measures, while the BDepi patients showed lower scores in all MSCEIT measures, except for perceiving emotions. In addition, a main effect of mood state instead of BD subtype was found for the managing emotions branch (p < 0.0007). Regression analyses showed that the duration of illness and HDRS scores were correlated with the scores in the strategic area of the MSCEIT, while age and YMRS scores were more relevant to the scores in the experiential area of the MSCEIT.Conclusion: The results confirm that an EI deficit is mood-dependent in BD patients. In addition, a depressive mood is more related to the strategic EI area, while a manic mood is correlated with the experiential EI area. Understanding the different domains of EI deficits in BD patients may be helpful for developing interventions for BD.
Highlights
Bipolar spectrum disorder (BD) is recognized as a severe and chronic mental disorder [1, 2]
The results showed that, compared to the healthy controls (HCs), the BDeut patients showed no difference in any Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) measures, while the BDepi patients showed lower scores in all MSCEIT measures, except for perceiving emotions
Regression analyses showed that the duration of illness and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores were correlated with the scores in the strategic area of the MSCEIT, while age and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores were more relevant to the scores in the experiential area of the MSCEIT
Summary
Bipolar spectrum disorder (BD) is recognized as a severe and chronic mental disorder [1, 2]. About 60% of BD patients have poor social interpersonal relationships [4], and it appears that there is an association between mood episodes and social functioning [5, 6]. BD has been recognized as a mental disorder with emotional dysregulation [8]. Previous studies reported social cognitive impairment in patients with BD during their remitted states [9, 10]. An emotional intelligence (EI) deficit has been noticed in euthymic bipolar spectrum disorder (BD) patients. Whether this deficit is affected by mood or subtype is unclear
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