Title: Creativity and mental health - Wikipedia
Headings: Creativity and mental health
Creativity and mental health
Contents
History
Studies
Mood and creativity
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Arguments that support link
Bipolar disorder
Emotions
Posthumous diagnosis
Positive correlation
Mental illness and divergent thinking
Arguments against a link
Notable individuals
See also
References
External links

Content: Studies
For many years, the creative arts have been used in therapy for those recovering from mental illness or addiction. Another study found creativity to be greater in schizotypal than in either normal or schizophrenic individuals. While divergent thinking was associated with bilateral activation of the prefrontal cortex, schizotypal individuals were found to have much greater activation of their right prefrontal cortex. This study hypothesized that such individuals are better at accessing both hemispheres, allowing them to make novel associations at a faster rate. In agreement with this hypothesis, ambidexterity is also associated with schizotypal and schizophrenic individuals. Three recent studies by Mark Batey and Adrian Furnham have demonstrated the relationships between schizotypal and hypomanic personality and several different measures of creativity. Particularly strong links have been identified between creativity and mood disorders, particularly manic-depressive disorder (a.k.a. bipolar disorder) and depressive disorder (a.k.a. unipolar disorder ). In Touched with Fire: