The emotional intelligence in severe mental disorders: A comparative study in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Introduction Severe mental disorders have deficits in different aspects of social cognition, which seem to be more pronounced in patients with schizophrenia compared to those with bipolar disorder. Emotional intelligence, defined as the ability to process, understand and manage emotions, is one of the main components of the sociocognition. Both in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have been described changes in emotional intelligence, but only few studies compare both disorders. Objectives The objective of this research is to increase knowledge about the differences between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Aims To compare emotional intelligence in patients with schizophrenia versus bipolar patients. Methods Seventy-five adult patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were evaluate. The assessment protocol consisted of a questionnaire on socio-demographic and clinical-care data, and a battery of assessment scales (BPRS, PANSS, SCID-I-RV, YMRS, HDRS, CGI-S, EEAG, MSCEIT). Among the assessment tools of emotional intelligence, we select MSCEIT as the most validated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23 version. After the descriptive analysis of the data, we compare the results of the scales. Results Both disorders show a deterioration of emotional intelligence compared to the general population. There were no statistically significant differences in the comparison of emotional intelligence between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Conclusion Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have deficits in emotional intelligence, while it is difficult to show differences between them. These changes in emotional intelligence are part of a set of cognitive, social and non-social skills, which are altered in these severe mental disorders.