Major depressive disorder in persons exposed to trauma: relationship between emotional intelligence and social support.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic events are often linked to the onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) and for the increase of nonremittance of symptoms; however, psychological factors that contribute to the relationship between trauma and chronic depression are not well defined.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine if emotional intelligence (EI) and social support differ in traumatized depressed patients when compared with controls.

METHOD

The present study examines two psychosocial factors that may contribute to this link: EI and social support. Participants who experienced a trauma and had current MDD (n=38) were compared with nontraumatized healthy controls ( n=40).

RESULTS

Traumatized depressed participants exhibited lower total EI, because of reductions in strategic EI ability, as well as lower levels of social support compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

EI and social support were significantly correlated. These findings suggest that EI may be a novel target for intervention to prevent and treat MDD.