The impact of stroke on emotional intelligence

Abstract

BackgroundEmotional intelligence (EI) is important for personal, social and career success and has been linked to the frontal anterior cingulate, insula and amygdala regions.AimTo ascertain which stroke lesion sites impair emotional intelligence and relation to current frontal assessment measurements.MethodsOne hundred consecutive, non aphasic, independently functioning patients post stroke were evaluated with the Bar-On emotional intelligence test, "known as the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i)" and frontal tests that included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Frontal Systems Behavioral Inventory (FRSBE) for correlational validity. The results of a screening, bedside frontal network syndrome test (FNS) and NIHSS to document neurological deficit were also recorded. Lesion location was determined by the Cerefy digital, coxial brain atlas.ResultsAfter exclusions (n = 8), patients tested (n = 92, mean age 50.1, CI: 52.9, 47.3 years) revealed that EQ-i scores were correlated (negatively) with all FRSBE T sub-scores (apathy, disinhibition, executive, total), with self-reported scores correlating better than family reported scores. Regression analysis revealed age and FRSBE total scores as the most influential variables. The WCST error percentage T score did not correlate with the EQ-i scores. Based on ANOVA, there were significant differences among the lesion sites with the lowest mean EQ-i scores associated with temporal (71.5) and frontal (87.3) lesions followed by subtentorial (91.7), subcortical gray (92.6) and white (95.2) matter, and the highest scores associated with parieto-occipital lesions (113.1).Conclusions1) Stroke impairs EI and is associated with apathy, disinhibition and executive functioning. 2) EI is associated with frontal, temporal, subcortical and subtentorial stroke syndromes.

The Human Frontal Lobes and Frontal Network Systems: An Evolutionary, Clinical, and Treatment Perspective

“…Subsequently from a registry analysis a much more widely distributed lesion site network impairs EI, in keeping with the extensive contemporarily appreciated neurobiological emotional network proposed by Pessoa (Table 6) [82]. Many different brain lesions may affect EI, including frontal, temporal, subcortical, and even subtentorial stroke syndromes with the strongest relationship (EI scores) pertained to the frontal and temporal regions [83] (Table 2). …”

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia

“…Depression scales that have been shown to be sensitive to stroke-related mood disturbance include the Beck Depression Inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [126,127]. The Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) examines for the presence of dysexecutive, disinhibitive and apathetic behaviors both before and after a stroke, and has been found to be useful in this population [128], as has the Neuropsychiatric Inventory [129]. Both scales utilize a collateral source who knows the patient well as an informant for behavioral change and/or mood disturbance.…”

Poststroke Apathy

“…[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] Assessment of the risk of bias per study is provided in Appendix SIII in the online-only Data Supplement.…”