title: Effects of endogenous and exogenous progesterone on emotional intelligence in cocaine-dependent men and women who also abuse alcohol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As sex differences in substance dependence may impinge upon the perception and regulation of emotion, we assess emotional intelligence (EI) as a function of gender, menstrual cycle (MC) phase and hormonal changes in early abstinent cocaine-dependent individuals who abuse alcohol (CDA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1: The Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) was administered to 98 CDA (55 M/43 F) and 56 healthy (28 M/28 F) individuals. Performance in women was also assessed by MC phase. Study 2: The MSCEIT was administered to 28 CDA (19 M/9 F) who received exogenous progesterone (400 mg/day) versus placebo for 7 days (study 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study 1: Healthy females were better than healthy males at facilitating thought and managing emotions. This gender discrepancy was not observed in the CDA group. Additionally, all women in the high compared with the low progesterone phase of their MC were better at managing their emotions. Study 2: Exogenous progesterone improved ability to facilitate thought in both males and females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CDA women may be vulnerable to difficulties managing and regulating emotions. Gonadal hormones may contribute to this gender effect, as increases in both endogenous and exogenous progesterone improved selective aspects of EI.
authors.affiliation: The Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Verica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milivojevic
authors.forename: Rajita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sofuoglu
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: MSCEIT; cocaine dependence; emotional intelligence; gender; progesterone