Moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the role of negative affect in the motivation to drink in alcohol-dependent subjects undergoing protracted withdrawal

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 16 - 21
• Main Authors: Uva, Mariana Cordovil de Sousa, Timary, Philippe de, Cortesi, Marie, Mikolajczak, Moïra, Blicquy, Paul du Roy de, Luminet, Olivier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol dependence; Alcoholism; Biological and medical sciences; Craving; Emotional intelligence; Medical sciences; Motivation; Negative affect; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Withdrawal; Withdrawal and detoxification program; Alcohol-dependence; Emotional intelligence; Withdrawal and detoxification program; Craving; Negative affect; Consumption; Human; Affect affectivity; Poison withdrawal; Alcoholism; Cognition; Emotion emotionality; Psychological effect; Alcoholic beverage; Treatment; Motivation; Dependence
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.08.004

In order to understand how emotional aspects evolve and are related to craving for alcohol, different emotion-related variables were examined in relationship to craving during a protracted withdrawal. To this end state affectivity (PANAS), emotional intelligence (EI) (TEIQue), and craving (OCDS) were assessed at the onset (T1: day 1 or 2) and at the end (T2: day 14 to 18) of three-week protracted withdrawal among alcohol-dependent inpatients (DSM-IV, N = 41). A significant decrease in craving and negative affectivity (NA) was observed from T1 to T2 while EI scores remained low. At both baseline and follow-up, there was a significant moderation effect of EI on the link between NA and craving for alcohol. Negative mood at the onset of the cure was linked to craving at the end of the withdrawal period but only among patients with low trait EI scores. The merits of using psychotherapeutic approaches were discussed in the treatment of alcohol addiction.