Creative people are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Swedish scientists from the University of Carolina have proved the connection between creative activity and predisposition to mental illness.
People with the power of creative abilities have an increased risk of developing bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. Specialists conducted a large-scale study to identify what links mental health and art people.
Earlier studies of a team of specialists made it possible to say that many artists and scientists came from families where mental disorders were observed in the family, for example, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia.
In this study, the researchers analyzed the condition of almost 1.2 million people - not only patients of psychiatric dispensaries on inpatient treatment, but also people undergoing outpatient treatment, as well as their families, up to cousins and sisters. The data was compared with a healthy control group.
The results confirmed previous - some mental diseases, such as bipolar disorder, are more common in families where there are people who are prone to art or science.
In addition, experts found that gifted people are prone to suicidal behavior and 50% more likely to commit suicide. The scientists also found that many relatives of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anorexia nervosa and autism, belonged to people who linked their lives with art.
Researchers note that the findings suggest a revision of the approach to the treatment of mental illness.
"If we look at this situation from the other side, we will see that some of the phenomena connected with the patient's disease are even useful, if I may say so," says the lead author of the study, Simon Kyaga. "In that case, doctors should reconsider their treatment policy." In psychiatry, a tradition has already developed - to treat the patient with all his might and not pay attention to anything, considering all phenomena as a consequence of the disease, and therefore abnormal and needing a cure. "
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