Does Emotional Intelligence have a “Dark” Side? A Review of the Literature

Emotional intelligence (EI) was once touted as the ‘panacea’ for a satisfying and successful life. Consequently, there has been much emphasis on developing interventions to promote this personal resource in applied settings. Despite this, a growing body of research has begun to identify particular contexts when EI does not appear helpful and may even be deleterious to a person, or those they have contact with, suggesting a ‘dark’ side to the construct. This paper provides a review of emergent literature to examine when, why and how trait and ability EI may contribute to negative intrapersonal (psychological ill-health; stress reactivity) and interpersonal outcomes (emotional manipulation; antisocial behaviour). Negative effects were found to operate across multiple contexts (health, academic, occupational) however these were often indirect, suggesting that outcomes depend on pre-existing qualities of the person. Literature also points to the possibility of ‘optimal’ levels of EI – both within and across EI constructs. Uneven profiles of self-perceptions (trait facets) or actual emotional skills contribute to poorer outcomes, particularly emotional awareness and management. Moreover, individuals who possess high levels of skill but have lower self-perceptions of their abilities fare worse that those with more balanced profiles. Future research must now improve methodological and statistical practices to better capture EI in context and the negative corollary associated with high levels.

Postpartum Psychosis in Bipolar Disorder: No Association with Personality, Cognitive Style and Temperament

Background and Aims: Bipolar disorder has been associated with a number of personality traits, cognitive styles and affective temperaments. Women who have bipolar disorder are at increased risk of experiencing postpartum psychosis, however no previous research has investigated these traits in relationship to postpartum episodes. Our aim was to establish whether aspects of personality, cognitive style and affective temperament, that have been associated with bipolar disorder, confer vulnerability to postpartum psychosis over and above their known association with bipolar disorder. Methods: Participants were 552 parous women with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder recruited into the Bipolar Disorder Research Network (www.bdrn.org). Postpartum psychosis group: lifetime episode of postpartum psychosis within 6 weeks of delivery (N = 284). Non-postpartum psychosis group: no history of any perinatal mood episodes (N = 268). Bipolar disorder-associated personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, schizotypy and impulsivity), cognitive styles (low self-esteem and dysfunctional attitudes) and affective temperaments were measured using well validated self-report questionnaire measures. Results: After controlling for key demographic, clinical and pregnancy-related variables, and measures of current mood state, there were no statistically significant differences between the postpartum psychosis group and non-postpartum psychosis group on any of the personality, cognitive style or affective temperament measures. Conclusions: Personality traits, cognitive styles and affective temperaments associated with the bipolar disorder diathesis in general were not associated with the onset of postpartum psychosis specifically. We have found no evidence that these traits should play a key role when evaluating risk of postpartum psychosis in women with bipolar I disorder considering pregnancy.

The Influence of Borderline Personality Traits on the Course of Bipolar Disorder

Background and Aims: Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are commonly comorbid. Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed categorically, but personality pathology may be better characterised dimensionally. The impact of borderline personality traits (not diagnosis) on the course of bipolar disorder is unknown. We examined the presence and severity of borderline personality traits in a large UK sample of bipolar disorder, and the impact of these traits on illness course. Methods: Borderline Evaluation of Severity over Time (BEST) was used to measure presence and severity of borderline traits in 1447 individuals with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder (n = 1008) and bipolar II disorder (n = 439) recruited into the Bipolar Disorder Research Network (www.bdrn.org). Clinical course was measured via semi-structured interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry) and case-notes. Results: BEST score was higher in bipolar II than bipolar I (36 v 27, p < 0.001) and 9/12 individual BEST traits were significantly more common in bipolar II than bipolar I. Within both bipolar I and bipolar II higher BEST score was associated with younger age of bipolar onset (p < 0.001), history of alcohol misuse (p < 0.010), and history of suicide attempt (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Borderline personality traits are common in bipolar disorder, and more severe in bipolar II than bipolar I disorder. Borderline trait severity was associated with more severe bipolar illness course; younger age of onset, alcohol misuse and suicidal behaviour. Clinicians should be vigilant for borderline personality traits irrespective of whether criteria for diagnosis are met, particularly in those with bipolar II disorder and younger age of bipolar onset.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Management of Vocal Cord Dysfunction in an Elite Female Swimmer: a Case Study

Acute pulmonary disorders are commonplace within the athletic population, with exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) common diagnoses. VCD is a condition that causes the adduction of the vocal folds during inhalation, causing obstruction at the larynx and thereby a severely impaired sporting performance. VCD can be brought on by laryngeal irritants, emotional and psychological stress and asthma. The gold standard of treatment for VCD centres on an interdisciplinary approach from specialists that often include a respiratory consultant, speech and language therapist (SLT) and a psychologist. The present case study details the interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of an elite female swimmer with VCD with an intervention programme that lasted nine weeks, instigated by a local general practitioner (G.P.) who chose to engage a Sport Psychology Consultant (SPC) due to the sport-specific nature of the psychological stress experienced by the individual. The steps involved in the design of the sport psychology interventions are outlined and the relationship of those interventions to the work of the other specialists is discussed. The 9 week intervention programme was aimed at reducing perfectionist tendencies and competitive state anxiety using a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), goal-setting and imagery. Overall, the treatment programme was deemed a success as perfectionism and competitive state anxiety levels reduced over time along with the frequency of VCD occurrence. This case study demonstrates the breadth of roles that can be undertaken by a SPC and raises awareness of a complex respiratory disorder that is not yet fully understood.

Co-exposure to mycotoxins: the case of waste management workers

Introduction - Occupational exposures are characterized by being complex and associated to co-exposure to several contaminants by different exposure routes. Even if exposure occurs to only a chemical agent, it can have different exposure routes and can result in different health effects. The waste management setting is recognized by the presence of several chemical and biologic agents in the workplaces. Recently, it was reported occupational exposure to Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in one Portuguese waste management industry. However, data regarding to fungal burden showed that exposure to other mycotoxins should be expected. Aim of the study - The aim of the present work was to know if workers from this waste management industry were exposed to other mycotoxins besides AFB1.

Experiences of women in secure care who have been prescribed clozapine for borderline personality disorder

Background: Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medicine which can cause significant side-effects. It is often prescribed off-license in severe cases of borderline personality disorder contrary to national treatment guidelines. Little is known about the experiences of those who take clozapine for borderline personality disorder. We explored the lived-experience of women in secure inpatient care who were prescribed clozapine for borderline personality disorder. Findings: Adult females (N=20) participated in audio-taped semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were subject to thematic analysis. The central themes related to evaluation, wellbeing, understanding and self-management; for many, their subjective wellbeing on clozapine was preferred to prior levels of functioning and symptomatology, sometimes profoundly so. The negative and potentially adverse effects of clozapine were explained as regrettable but relatively unimportant. Conclusions: When psychological interventions are, at least initially, ineffective then clozapine treatment is likely to be evaluated positively by a group of women with borderline personality disorder in secure care despite the potential disadvantages.

Prevalence of Aspergillus fumigatus complex in waste sorting and incineration plants: an occupational threat

Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the major ubiquitous saprophytic fungi and it is considered one of the fungal species with higher clinical relevance. This study aimed at characterising the prevalence of A. fumigatus complex in one waste-sorting plant and also in one incineration plant. Conventional and molecular methodologies were applied in order to detect its presence. Aspergillus fumigatus complex was the second most frequently found in the air from the waste-sorting plant (16.0%) and from the incineration plant (18.0%). Regarding surfaces, it ranked the third species most frequently found in the waste-sorting plant (13.8%) and the second in the incineration plant (22.3%). In the waste-sorting plant, it was possible to amplify by qPCR DNA from the A. fumigatus complex in all culture-positive sampling sites plus one other sampling site that was negative by culture analysis. Considering the observed fungal load, it is recommended to apply preventive and protective measures in order to avoid or minimise worker's exposure.

Giving the benefit of the doubt: the role of vulnerability in the perception of Dark Triad behaviours.

The 'Dark Triad' of socially aversive personality traits (Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy) is typically associated with grandiosity, callousness, and exploitation. Despite this, people with such traits can be very successful in life, especially in the occupational context. This study investigated the characteristics of individuals who enable and abet people high on Dark Triad traits (e.g. through tolerating unpleasant behaviours, not challenging unethical conduct, etc.). High Dark Triad individuals may be able to identify individuals who are susceptible to social manipulation and who are therefore less likely to challenge their behaviours. This study used a 20-item Vulnerability Scale to capture the characteristics of individuals who fall victim to people high on the Dark Triad traits. Cronbach's alpha for the Vulnerability Scale was .80. Pearson's correlation between total vulnerability scores and each of the Big Five personality traits revealed that predictors of vulnerability to social manipulation include low extraversion, low conscientiousness, high neuroticism, and high agreeableness. The vignette method was used to elicit perceptions of Dark Triad behaviours from those who are found to demonstrate signs of social vulnerability. Differences in response styles on Likert-type statements and open-ended questions were found between the high and low vulnerability groups.

Task-based approach used on surfaces sampling strategy definition: the case of antineoplastic occupational exposure

Task-based approach implicates identifying all the tasks developed in each workplace aiming to refine the exposure characterization. The starting point of this approach is the recognition that only through a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of tasks is possible to understand, in more detail, the exposure scenario. In addition allows also the most suitable risk management measures identification. This approach can be also used when there is a need of identifying the workplace surfaces for sampling chemicals that have the dermal exposure route as the most important. In this case is possible to identify, through detail observation of tasks performance, the surfaces that involves higher contact (frequency) by the workers and can be contaminated. Identify the surfaces to sample when performing occupational exposure assessment to antineoplasic agents. Surfaces selection done based on the task-based approach.

Importance of size-selective particle sampling for assessing occupational exposures: results from three different occupational settings

Sampling the total air concentration of particulate matter (PM) only provides a basic estimate of exposure that normally not allows correlating with the observed health effects. Therefore is of extreme importance to know the particles size distribution and, in more detail, the exposure to fine particles (≤ 2.5 µm). This particles dimension corresponds to the respirable fraction. This particle fraction can result, besides local effects, in systemic effects due to particle deposition and clearance from the lungs and transport within the organism. This study intended to describe occupational exposure to PM2.5 in three different units located near Lisbon and related with occupational exposure to organic dust, namely: swine and poultry feed production and waste management.

An exploratory study of creativity, personality and schooling achievement

International audience

Understanding the Impact of Management Practices and Other Factors on Productivity in the UK Retail Sector

Insights into how management practices and other factors impact upon company productivity in the UK retail sector. Creating a sound base of applied knowledge and understanding to inform other components of our project.

French good practice guidelines for medical and occupational surveillance of the low back pain risk among workers exposed to manual handling of loads

International audience

French good practice guidelines for management of the risk of low back pain among workers exposed to manual material handling: Hierarchical strategy of risk assessment of work situations

International audience

Context dependency of trait repeatability and its relevance for management and conservation of fish populations

Repeatability of behavioural and physiological traits is increasingly a focus for animal researchers, for which fish have become important models. Almost all of this work has been done in the context of evolutionary ecology, with few explicit attempts to apply repeatability and context dependency of trait variation toward understanding conservation-related issues. Here, we review work examining the degree to which repeatability of traits (such as boldness, swimming performance, metabolic rate and stress responsiveness) is context dependent. We review methods for quantifying repeatability (distinguishing between within-context and across-context repeatability) and confounding factors that may be especially problematic when attempting to measure repeatability in wild fish. Environmental factors such temperature, food availability, oxygen availability, hypercapnia, flow regime and pollutants all appear to alter trait repeatability in fishes. This suggests that anthropogenic environmental change could alter evolutionary trajectories by changing which individuals achieve the greatest fitness in a given set of conditions. Gaining a greater understanding of these effects will be crucial for our ability to forecast the effects of gradual environmental change, such as climate change and ocean acidification, the study of which is currently limited by our ability to examine trait changes over relatively short time scales. Also discussed are situations in which recent advances in technologies associated with electronic tags (biotelemetry and biologging) and respirometry will help to facilitate increased quantification of repeatability for physiological and integrative traits, which so far lag behind measures of repeatability of behavioural traits.