Emotional Intelligence and Psychiatry Residents: Does the PRITE Measure Emotional Intelligence?

Objective: The authors assessed the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Psychiatry Resident In-Training Exam (PRITE) scores. EI is important to the therapeutic alliance. The hypothesis tested was that PRITE scores would correlate with EI. Method: Adult Psychiatry residents participated. The PRITE was administered, and participants completed the online Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Quotient questionnaire. Results: Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for PRITE score and overall EI score, and with the 15 EI subscales. The correlation for PRITE and overall EI was not significant. Three EI subscales had statistically significant correlations with PRITE score: empathy, social responsibility, and impulse control. Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between overall EI and PRITE scores. There was an inverse relationship between PRITE scores and empathy, social responsibility, and impulse control. The authors discuss possible explanations for these relationships.