Emotional intelligence as a mediator between attachment security and empathy in pre-clinical medical students: A multi-center cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of emotional intelligence (EI) and attachment security (AS) with empathy dimensions in medical students by examining the mediating role of EI. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and demographic questions were administrated to second-year medical students of two medical schools in Northern Italy. RESULTS: 253 medical students (56.13% female), aged 19-29, participated in this study. AS positively correlated to Empathic Concern (r = 0.17, p = 0.008) and Perspective Taking (r = 0.24, p < 0.001), and negatively to Personal Distress (r = -0.33, p < 0.001). Individuals with the same level of AS and a higher score on EQ-i had a higher score (ß = 0.072, p = 0.033) on empathy latent factor (at the basis of Empathic Concern and Perspective Taking) and a lower score (ß = -0.290, p < 0.001) on Personal Distress than those with a lower EQ-i score. CONCLUSION: This study shows that EI completely mediated the relationship between AS and empathy dimensions among medical students. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: EI training and workshop should be considered when designing educational interventions and programs to enhance empathy and decrease interpersonal distress in medical students.

Mindfulness-based interventions in the early phase of affective and non-affective psychoses: Special Section on "Translational and Neuroscience Studies in Affective Disorders" Section Editor, Maria Nobile MD, PhD.

BACKGROUND: In the last 10 years, psychological approaches based on mindfulness techniques have been proposed for the management of psychotic experiences. METHOD: In this brief review we summarized, to our knowledge for the first time, published studies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) applied to the early phase of major psychoses (affective and non-affective). RESULTS: Despite the great variability in terms of MBIs protocols, available studies on young people at risk to develop or with a first episode of psychosis suggest MBIs as a feasible, well-tolerated and effective approach in ameliorating symptoms, functioning, emotion regulation, and finally reducing the psychological distress associated with the onset of mania and/or psychotic experience. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and inconsistencies between studies in terms of design, MBIs protocols and outcome measures suggest being cautious in interpreting and generalizing results. Moreover, specific guidelines are missing for the adaptation of MBIs to youth at risk of developing affective psychoses. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings show that MBIs may be considered a promising adjunctive therapy for the treatment of major psychoses in the early phases of the illness. However, the conduct of further studies in larger samples and with a more rigorous methodology is warranted to confirm the beneficial effect of MBIs in the early stages of major psychoses.

Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences (VR-CoDES): Conceptual framework and future directions.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the theoretical and empirical framework of VR-CoDES and potential future direction in research based on the coding system. METHODS: The paper is based on selective review of papers relevant to the construction and application of VR-CoDES. RESULTS: VR-CoDES system is rooted in patient-centered and biopsychosocial model of healthcare consultations and on a functional approach to emotion theory. According to the VR-CoDES, emotional interaction is studied in terms of sequences consisting of an eliciting event, an emotional expression by the patient and the immediate response by the clinician. The rationale for the emphasis on sequences, on detailed classification of cues and concerns, and on the choices of explicit vs. non-explicit responses and providing vs. reducing room for further disclosure, as basic categories of the clinician responses, is described. CONCLUSIONS: Results from research on VR-CoDES may help raise awareness of emotional sequences. Future directions in applying VR-CoDES in research may include studies on predicting patient and clinician behavior within the consultation, qualitative analyses of longer sequences including several VR-CoDES triads, and studies of effects of emotional communication on health outcomes. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: VR-CoDES may be applied to develop interventions to promote good handling of patients' emotions in healthcare encounters.