Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Functions in Psychiatric Patients and Normal Subjects

Aim: The aim of present study was to compare emotional intelligence (EI) of psychiatric patients and normal subjects and to study the effect of EI on cognitive functions (CF).
Research method was causative-comparative. Subjects included 25 schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms, 25 schizophrenic patients with positive symptoms, 25 depressive patients and 25 normal subjects who were all matched in terms of gender, age and level of education. The clinical participants were recruited from patients who attended in psychiatric hospitals in Shiraz, using convenience sampling method. Negative and positive symptoms were measured using Andreasen and Olsen's Scale (1982). CF was measured using Stroop Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Verbal Fluency Test. Petrides and Furnham’s Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (2001) was used to measure subjects’ EI. The subjects were divided into two groups of high and low EI.
Regarding EI, there was no significant difference between patient groups, but the difference between patient groups and normal subjects were significant. On the other hand, the rate of EI (high and low) had no effect on the performance of subjects in cognitive tests.
There are a relationship between mental health and EI, but despite the common areas in brain which have a role to play in EI and CF, EI did not significantly affect cognitive functions.