Emotions are at the centre of every human interaction. A deficit in emotional functioning can lead to many difficulties. For example, impairment in emotion recognition, identification, or regulation could make it difficult to keep a job, may lead to substance abuse, to the development of mental health issues, or to minor or major difficulties to cope with life’s expectations and challenges [1]. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a concept developed in the 80s–۹۰s by Mayer and Salovey [2] (for an ability model of EI), Goleman [3] and Bar-On [4, 5] (for a mixed model of abilities and trait Emotional and Social Intelligence), or a ‘Trait’ EI model [6, 7]. Mayer and Salovey revised model of EI understands EI as the “ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions” [۲], excluding abilities of flexibility and motivation that could be found in their original model of EI [6], and is assessed via a performance based questionnaire (the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso-Emotional Intelligence Test—MSCEIT). The mixed model of abilities and trait Emotional Intelligence of Bar-On describes EI as an “array of emotional, personal, and social abilities that effect one’s overall ability to effectively cope with daily demands and pressures” that is made possible by a “core capacity to be aware of, understand, control, and express emotions effectively” [۵, ۸]. The psychometric test developed by Bar-On (the Emotion Quotient Inventory: EQ-i) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses trait EI through 5 major dimensions: the intrapersonal intelligence, the interpersonal intelligence, adaptability, stress management, and general mood [8]. The Bar-On model, therefore, assesses one’s cross-situational behavioural consistency in their ability to be emotionally and socially ‘performant’, whereas the ability model of Mayer and Salovey has a more cognitive approach of EI which is also closer to the core definition of EI [7]. During adolescence, the changes a person faces to find a place in society and among his or her peers and the modification of his/her body induced by puberty can lead to emotional difficulties. From flat affect to great emotional lability, the emotional life of a teenager can be challenging, and suicide or at-risk behaviours are the first mortality cause during adolescence [9]. On the other side, a well-developed emotional and social intelligence has proved to be linked with well-being [10, 11]. For adolescent in-patients, a good emotional intelligence (EI) protects patients against suicidal ideation, especially when they have a high perceived stress [12]. Emotional functioning in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been an increasing focus of interest during the last 10 years, PubMed entries growing from 35 in 2007 to 78 in 2016 for the research terms “Anorexia” and “Emotion”. Indeed, the emergency to find a care that would significantly increase the patients’ chances to overcome their disorder has led research teams to focus on genetics—with endophenotypefocus research for example [13]. Neurobiological teams have also been exploring the role of leptin in anorexia [14], or oxytocin [15] respectively, a hormone and a neuropeptide that could have a role in the development and treatment of AN. And last, for psychotherapeutic advances, teams have been interested in the socio-emotional aspects in AN, and emotional profiling in AN [16]. One type of therapy currently developed and perfected is emotion-focused therapy that shows some promise.