Creative Genius Linked to Mental Illness


May 24, 2002 – From Vincent Van Gogh to Sylvia Plath, the path from mental
illness to creative genius has been well traveled by many artists and
writers. Now, researchers say they are gaining new clues about the mysterious
link between highly creative individuals and mental disorders, such as manic
depression.



A new study shows that healthy artists are more similar in personality to
people with manic depression than other healthy people in the population.
Researchers presented the findings this week at the American Psychiatric
Association Meeting in Philadelphia.



The National Institute on Mental Health estimates that manic depression, also
called bipolar disorder, affects about 2 million Americans. The brain
disorder is characterized by unusual and often dramatic shifts in a person's
energy level and mood far different than the typical "ups and downs." Manic
depression causes striking mood swings – from overly "high" to sad and
hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between.
Major changes in behavior and energy go along with these changes in mood. The
periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.



"My hunch is that emotional range, having an emotional broadband, is the
bipolar patient's advantage," says study author Connie Strong, a doctoral
candidate at Stanford University, in a news release. "It isn't the only thing
going on, but something gives people with manic depression an edge, and I
think it's emotional range."



Researchers say the study is unique because it compared both healthy,
creative people to similarly matched people from the general population, as
well as to individuals diagnosed with a mental illness.



Using standard personality, temperament, and creativity tests, researchers
analyzed four different groups: 47 healthy individuals, 48 patients with
successfully treated bipolar disorder, 25 patients successfully treated for
depression, and 32 healthy graduate students enrolled in creative programs
such as product design, creative writing, and fine arts.



The study found people in the creative group and recovered manic depressives
were more open and likely to be moody and neurotic than other healthy
individuals. Researchers say these traits are part of a group of
characteristics known as "negative-affective traits" that also include mild
forms of depression and bipolar disorder that do not necessarily require
treatment.


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