Correlation between Mood Disorders and Creativity - Research Paper Example

Correlation between Mood Disorders and Creativity Introduction The connection between creativity and mood disorder has for a long time been the focus of public and academic interest. Previous studies have identified common attributes of individuals who appear to be extremely creative, and those who suffer from mood disorders including impulsivity, high motivation, divergent thinking and extraversion (Taylor, Fletcher & Lobban, 2015). The connection between mood disorders and creativity was first addressed in literature in the seventies but the ideology of the co-relation between genius and madness dates back to Aristotle’s time. Research has stated that people with mood disorders exhibit a capability to view the world in an original and novel manner and notice things that other people might not. Correlation between mood disorders and creativity Research concerning connections between creativity and mood disorders has predominantly been addressed in two forms of study. Some evaluate mood disorders in prominent and creative people through structured interviews or assessments of written biographies. Some of the studies have argued that the utmost geniuses with the most unique gifts also had concomitant psychopathologies including Beethoven, Napoleon, Strindberg and Schopenhauer among others (Kyaga et al., 2011). Therefore, it is not by mere chance that among those considered to be extremely gifted in history, on a small fraction is actually healthy. Some studies have established that there is no clear connection between high mental capacity and mood illnesses, but that people who are highly gifted have higher levels of psychopathology. People with mood disorders go through episodes of depression and mania, which is an increased energetic or irritable mood (Taylor, Fletcher & Lobban, 2015). Such episodes may occur separately, but in some instances, maniac and depressed symptoms may take place simultaneously. Additionally, the frequency of the episodes differs, for instance a rapid cycling bipolar disorder is characterized by manic, depressive, mixed episodes and hypomanic within a specific year. In the early instances of manic episodes, individuals may be extremely happy, creative and productive a since they do not feel tired and have require less sleep. There has been evidence that numerous prominent and creative people suffered or suffer for mood disorders. However, this connection may be a consequence of unknown third factors like temperament, among others. Mood disorders have been to some extent idealized through their connection with creative individuals, however, the experience of numerous sufferers, as far as the illness is concerned, has not been pleasant (Ramey & Chrysikou, 2014). Patients have reported being in a situation where they cannot function and in some instances have to be hospitalized, particularly when they do not take medication in the manner prescribed by the physician. Conversely, when manic episodes begin, the individual may feel like making numerous plans since they perceive the world as being full of opportunities. In such instances, the individual may feel high, make numerous new friends, spend all the money they have and in some cases, feel invincible. Medication may seem to eliminate or dull the experiences and may not be considered desirable in such instances. According to (Chavez-Eakle, Lara & Cruz-Fuentes, 2006), personality profile is associated with higher creativity indices that include low avoidance of harm, a high degree of exploitary excitability, increased self-directedness, high persistence as well as high cooperativeness. Achievers who are highly creative score lowly in terms of psychopathology and there are strong negative connections between psychopathology and creativity in all the areas. Additionally, psychopathology is more connected to personality than creativity. Therefore, the findings of (Chavez-Eakle, Lara & Cruz-Fuentes, 2006) demonstrate that treatment of psychopathology when present may lead to development of creativity. Research in medicine and psychology provide some evidence for a connection, however, they are inclined towards prominent individuals or small sections of patients. Studies have shown that people with mood illnesses seem to disproportionately focus in occupational categories that considered as most creative (Chavez-Eakle, Lara & Cruz-Fuentes, 2006). They have further identified that the propensity to engage in creative activities on the job is considerably higher for people with mood disorders in comparison to people who do not suffer from mood disorders. There has been a general perception that individuals with affective disorders are overrepresented among populations of creative artists, particularly the ones with bipolar disorder (Kyaga et al., 2011). Mood disorders may be associated with particular benefits, particular the ones whose symptoms are milder. Additionally, people who suffer from mood disorders may exhibit unusual brain activity, particularly reduced frontal regulation of subcortical affective systems that involve the striatum and amygdala that may escalate the instability along with their compulsivity. Andreasen, (2008) also suggests a strong association between mod disorders and creativity but the overall literature that supports this connection is relatively limited. He adds that most of the work associated with the subject has insufficient definitions of mode disorders and creativity, while relying in autobiographical and anecdotal sources and lacking control groups. Regardless of these limitations, Andreasen (2008) states that there are numerous instances of significant connections between mood disorders and creativity, especially bipolar disorder. He cites Vincent Van Gogh as an examples of an individual who suffered from mood disorders before he committed suicide. Regardless of the fact that in the last eighteen months of his life Van Gogh suffered from extremel psychotic depression and mania, he was able to create more than three hundred of his best works. Additionally, Silvia Plath, who also commited suicide aged thirty one, suffered from extreme mood disorders for a considerable part of her life. Even though there is possibility that she was depressed when she died, her death was preceded by a period where she worked until late into the night writing poetry that was characterized with a dry sense of humor which suggested intermittent periods of energy. Further, the subjective accounts of the lives of individuals who were extremely creative are extraordinary since they portray a personal and human aspect. They further imply that examination of the connection between mood disorders and creativity is a though-provoking scientific pursuit. Nevertheless, the actual test of whether there is a connection an only be determined by rigorous experimental research (Andreasen, 2008). However, this kind or research are comparatively limited in number since studies on characteristics of creativity are associated with a diverse array of challenges. Regardless of the challenges associated with this research, researcher have concluded that ruminating, which involves self-reflection, may be the main aspect that leads to depressed feelings as well as creativity. The main notion is that when individuals are feeling more reflective, it is highly likely that they will feel extremely depressed or be creative(Woods, 2014). With more elaborate studies, researchers may be in a better position to discover numerous other aspects that have an effect on individual’s emotional well being as well as creativity. According to (Fink, Slamar-Halbedl, Unterrainer & Weiss, 2012), it appears that some mental processes may resemble psychotic and creative thinking; however, existing literature has not allowed for strong conclusions as a consequence of the numerous conceptual and methodical challenges within this field. People with mood disorders often report that they feel most productive and creative when they are feeling healthy. For instance, Sylvia Plath, a poet, who was widely considered to have bipolar disorder, stated that in the process of writing, she was able to access the healthiest aspects of herself. Some studies have tried to understand the connection between the creativity associated with Virginia Woolf and her mental illness, which was most likely a mood disorder since she was temperately stable while at the same time being considerably productive between 1925 and the time she committed suicide in 1941. At the time when she was unwell, Virginia Woolf created very little, but was very productive between her attacks with comprehensive analyses of her creativity through the years demonstrating that materials for her novels originated from her conditions. It appears that for individuals who are diagnosed with mood disorders, creativity may provide an exceptional means of expressing themselves. People with mood disorders often report that they feel most productive and creative when they are feeling healthy and in good moods. The dopaminergic system is a neuro-transmitter system that is linked with elevation of moods as well as psychotic thinking, which are involved with creativity. Specifically, it is associated with functions of the system in the dopaminergic pathways in the cerebral cortex as well as mesolimbic system. There is pharmacological and neurobiological evidence for a connection between emotional and motivational processes, along with cognitive processes and these pathways. Activities associated with dopaminergic mesolimbic system leads to increased motivation to act, explore the environment and also for positive emotional experiences (Rybakowski, Klonowska, Patrzała & Jaracz, 2008). Conclusion It is possible to argue that artistic settings, which consider emotional expressions as a valued aspect, are comfortable and welcoming places for people with mood disorders or psychological issues. It is also imperative to remember that mental health issues are not usually a prerequisite for creativity. Additionally, numerous people have made and continue to make considerable creative and artistic contributions without showing in symptoms of metal health issues while the artists who suffer from psychological issues continue to contribute impressively to their arts after effective treatment of their conditions. Nonetheless, it is important to consider the manner in which psychological conditions like bipolar Disorder may have an influence on an individuals creativity. Mania provides a person with energy and heightened thinking which may be needed to reach creative achievements while at the same time giving the individual inspiration and confidence which he or she may not otherwise experience. Evidence has also demonstrated that depressed moods may result in creativity through increasing standards of performance. Since negative moods result in decreased confidence in appropriateness of creative efforts, a person’s negative moods are spurred to greater efforts. References Andreasen, N. (2008). The relationship between creativity and mood disorders. Dialogues Clin Neurosci, 10(2), 251-255. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181877/ Chavez-Eakle, R., Lara, M., & Cruz-Fuentes, C. (2006). Personality: A Possible Bridge Between Creativity and Psychopathology?. Creativity Research Journal, 18(1), 27-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15326934crj1801_4 Fink, A., Slamar-Halbedl, M., Unterrainer, H., & Weiss, E. (2012). Creativity: Genius, madness, or a combination of both?. Psychology Of Aesthetics, Creativity, And The Arts, 6(1), 11-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024874 Kyaga, S., Lichtenstein, P., Boman, M., Hultman, C., Langstrom, N., & Landen, M. (2011). Creativity and mental disorder: family study of 300 000 people with severe mental disorder. The British Journal Of Psychiatry, 199(5), 373-379. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.085316 Ramey, C., & Chrysikou, E. (2014). “Not in their right mind”: the relation of psychopathology to the quantity and quality of creative thought. Frontiers In Psychology, 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00835 Rybakowski, J., Klonowska, P., Patrzała, A., & Jaracz, J. (2008). Psychopathology and creativity.Archives Of Psychiatry And Psychotherapy, 1, 37–47. Taylor, K., Fletcher, I., & Lobban, F. (2015). Exploring the links between the phenomenology of creativity and bipolar disorder. Journal Of Affective Disorders, 174, 658-664. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.040 Woods, M. (2014). Creativity and Mood Disorders: Is There a Link?. Beliefnet. Retrieved 30 November 2015, from http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/content/25574/Creativity-and-Mood-Disorders-Is-There-a-Link.aspx Read More