Inteligencia emocional en individuos dependientes de cocaína

Abstract

Aim

Cocaine dependence drastically affects the social functioning of cocaine users, which could reflect an impairment of emotional intelligence. Despite its importance, most studies in cocaine users have focused only on the recognition of facial emotional expressions. The main aim of this study is to explore emotional intelligence in cocaine users and to examine its relation with emotional recognition.

Material and methods

Thirty-one cocaine dependent individuals (CDI) and 53 healthy control individuals were assessed using The Constructive Thinking Inventory (for emotional intelligence) and The Ekman Faces Test (for emotional recognition).

Results

CDI scored lower in emotional intelligence and on the subscales: emotional coping, behavioral coping and categorical thinking. CDI had significantly poorer global emotional recognition and poorer recognition for facial expressions of disgust. Emotional intelligence correlates with the ability to recognize facial emotional expressions, showing the link between both skills.

Conclusions

CDI show impairments on emotional intelligence and on the ability to recognize facial emotional expressions. These impairments are related with an inflexible structure of thought, lack of decision on unpredictable situations and therefore difficulties in establishing rewarding social relationships. These impairments may affect the success of cocaine rehabilitation programs.