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- 1. The Correlation between Creativity and Mental Illness Danielle DiPaoloPSY492Marie Dube
- 3. If a correlation does in fact exist, should these abilities be suppressed with medication or treatment of the disorder (Sussman, 2007)?
- 4. Would treatment of the disorder(s) eradicate the artistic ability or would it enhance it?
- 6. According to many modern researchers and current studies, a correlation absolutely does exist between artistic ability and mental illness (Jamison, 1997).
- 8. To Medicate or Not to Medicate? The answer is actually much more simple than one might think. Research indicates and experts from all sides of this controversy agree, that the use of medication with these disorders will almost always be the most beneficial for the patient (Jamison, 1997). Kay Redfield Jamison, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, presents the rationale for this belief in very unambiguous manner: “Left untreated, however, manic-depressive illness often worsens over time—and no one is creative when severely depressed, psychotic or dead” (Jamison, 1997. p. 6).
- 9. Suggestions for Further Research Two research questions that could be utilized for further research on this topic are: To what extent is there a link between ADHD and artistic ability in young children? To what extent is ADHD in young children misdiagnosed?
- 10. Conclusion Though no evidence currently exists for causality, there appears to be an unarguable, yet unexplainable correlation between creativity and mental illness (Jamison, 1997). Medication is usually an essential part of the treatment plan of individuals with certain mental illnesses even at the risk of diminishing creativity, because if left untreated, the perilous symptoms of many of these disorders can cause tribulations much more catastrophic than lack of inspiration.
- 11. References Batey, M.; Furnham, A. (2008). The relationship between measures of creativity and schizotypy.Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved July 6, 2011, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/33524/the-relationship-between-measures-creativity-and-schizotypy.pdf Eckerd College (2011). Eckerd Professor Holly White Applies ADHD-Creativity Link to Helping Students Learn. Retrieved on July 20, 2011 from: http://www.eckerd.edu/news/index.php?f=detail&id=3091 Harvard University (2007). Creativity tied to mental illness.Harvard University Gazette.Retrieved July 6, 2011, from: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/2003/10.23/01-creativity.html Jamison, K. R. (1997). Manic-Depressive Illness and Creativity. Scientific American, Inc. Retrieved July 6, 2011, from http://positivedisintegration.com/Jamison1995.pdf KarolinskaInstitutet (2010). Dopamine system in highly creative people similar to that seen in schizophrenics, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 6, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/05/100518064610.htm Stanford University (2002). Researchers find link between creative genius and mental illness.StanfordReport. Retrieved July 6, 2011, from http://news.stanford.edu/news/2002/june12/crazy_genius.html Stanford University (2005). More evidence of association between bipolar disorder and artistic creativity.Stanford Report. Retrieved July 6, 2011, fromhttp://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/november16/med-bipolar-111605.html Sussman, A. (2007). Mental Illness and Creativity: A Neurological View of the “Tortured Artist”. Stanford Journal of Neuroscience, I (1).
Editor's Notes
- Many people have heard the use of phrases such as mad genius, crazy artists or those artistic types. Where did these phrases originate from? Do they encompass any rational implications or are they simply stereotypes and generalizations? These types of questions listed above have been a topic of recent discussion and controversy.
- In a 2002 study at Stanford University, researchers found that extremely creative people have similar traits and characteristics to individuals with certain mental illnesses (Stanford University, 2002). A separate 2005 Stanford University study found further evidence of this; “School of Medicine researchers have shown for the first time that a sample of children with bipolar disorder and children at high risk for the disease score higher on a creativity index than healthy children. The findings add to existing evidence that a link exists between mood disorders and creativity” Other studies indicate that there is a specific and strong correlation between artistic ability and the following mental illnesses: Bipolar Disorder (Jamison, 1997), Schizotypy (Batey, 2008) and Schizophrenia (KarolinskaInstitutet, 2010). The results of one study showed a biological similarity between the brains of schizophrenic individuals and creative individuals (KarolinskaInstitutet, 2010).
- Several of the mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Schizotypy, that have been found to be positively correlated with creativity require medication as part of an effective treatment plan (Jamison, 1997). This raises the question, if there is in fact a correlation between mental illness an creativity, does medication help or hurt the quality of life of patients suffering from Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Schizotypy?
- However, many of the medications that are effective in treating these disorders have side effects that present new problems and often cause the patients to stop taking them (Jamison, 1997). Though most individuals with severe mood disorders do desire to be free of the negative symptoms, many feel that medication diminishes some of their valued positive characteristics or traits such as intellect and creativity (Jamison, 1997). This causes a dilemma because, while the intention is to improve the quality of life of these patients, the medication may inadvertantly have a negative impact on aspects of their lives they do take pleasure in. This raises the question, if there is in fact a correlation between mental illness an creativity, does medication help or hurt the quality of life of patients suffering from Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Schizotypy? According to one Harvard psychiatrist, there is absolutely no positive correlation between mental illness and creativity (Bailey, 2003). In addition, he theoreticizes that mental illness is detrimental to creativity and that many of the well-known artists who are or were mentally ill would have done much better had they been effectively treated (Bailey, 2003). Even healthcare professionals and researchers who do believe there is a correlation between mental illness and creativity believe that medication, even at the risk of diminishing creativity, is the best option for the patient (Jamison, 1997).
- This is an extremely important topic for several reasons. First, if the correlation can be more closely identified, it may help mental health professionals with early identification of individuals, even children, whom may be at a higher risk of developing ADHD, mood disorders or schizophrenia. The other side of this argument brings up ethical considerations. Are certain abnormal personality characteristics or symptoms simply inherent in artistic individuals, and if so should we be medicating these individuals and suppressing their innate creative abilities? As previously discussed, the answer seems simple; from an ethical standpoint if the individual’s quality of life is being negatively affected then there is an obligation to provide them treatment or help them. However, whose quality of life is being affected in the case of children with ADHD; the child’s or those around the child? A recent study found that individuals with ADHD score much higher on creativity scales and in areas of creative problem solving (Eckerd College, 2011). This raises the question; are individuals with ADHD being treated in an appropriate manner? Are the negative aspects of the disorder being successfully eliminating while allowing them to retain the creative advantages that may be associated with this disorder? Is it possible that individuals with ADHD learn in a different way than those without the disorder? These questions may never be answered but it is still vital that researchers continue to ask them and constantly strive to better understand, diagnose and appropriately treat these illnesses.
- Is there a link between creativity and mental illness? Does one cause the other or are the two simply more likely to co-exist? According to several bodies of modern research, there does seem to be some sort of correlation between creativity and mental illness, especially in certain individuals with Schizophrenia and Manic Depression (Sussman, 2007). However there is not enough proof to suggest causality. The main focus of most of the research seems to be on the co-morbidity of artistic abilities existing particularly with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. Several posthumous case studies have been conducted utilizing personal journals, accounts from loved ones and friends and medical records of great artists such as Van Gogh, Sylvia Plath, Lord Byron, Tennessee Williams and countless others (Jamison, 1997). It is theoreticized that under modern diagnostic criteria several notable eighteenth and nineteenth century artists suffered from severe mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (Jamison, 1997).