The Effects of Lithium on the Creative

The correlation between mental illness and creative talent is one that has been pondered for thousands of years. Aristotle once questioned why all poets are “melancholy” (as cited in Jamison, 1993, p51). Plato affirmed there has never been a great genius without a touch of madness (as cited in Jamison, 1993, p51). There have been the documented suicides of such well-known authors as Sylvia Plath, Ernest Hemingway, Anne Sexton, and Virginia Woolf. Georgia O’Keeffe, Edvard Munch, Vincent Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock represent painters who have experienced a psychiatric hospitalization due to the severity of their illnesses. Musicians and composers also have been afflicted with the illness throughout history, including Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Frideric Handel, and Stephen Foster (Jamison, 1993). These examples of accomplished artistic ability maintain the belief that all works of art are created by and associated with “mad” men.

Creativity is often described as a rush of new ideas. It is when man discovers a new mathematical formula, the process of molding clay into a work of art, or the orchestration of a

Writers have reported that when they are depressed they are unable to work. They find that the depression is so crippling that it is impossible for them to be productive. Paradoxically, when they produce work while in a manic phase, they find that the work is of poor quality (Andreasen, 1987). Artists may use a manic or hypomanic phase for the incubation of new ideas and explore them when in a more neutral mood state.

A study of British writers found that there was a higher prevalence of Bipolar Disorder than in the general population. Ninety percent of the subjects felt that the mood swings were necessary to create. Poets, novelists, and playwrights reported symptoms of mood disorders, however biographers reported no mental illness. An explanation for this is that biographers are not creative in the sense of new ideas, but deal with only preexisting factual information (Jamison 1989).

However, the question has been raised as to whether or not this drug may interfere with the creative process on which artists may depend. While some patients believe that taking Lithium increases their creative productivity, others argue that the drug interferes with or decreases their artistic achievement (Andreasen, 1989). Often those diagnosed with this disease believe that the massive mood swings are necessary for inspiration. Some artists fear the

One of the most important aspects to both the artist and the clinician is treatment. Edvard Munch once stated, “A German man once said to me: ‘But you could rid yourself of many of your troubles.’ To which I replied, ‘They are a part of me and my art. They are indistinguishable from me, and it would destroy my art. I want to keep those sufferings.’” (as quoted in Jamison, 1993, p. 241). Artists often feel that they must endure hardship in an effort to produce art. They see it as a necessity to the creative process. They fear that seeking treatment would turn them into the well adjusted. They fear that by altering their personality through medication, it will ultimately alter their craft.

Some topics in this essay:
Lithium Effects, Bipolar Disorder, Psychiatric Association, Thinkers Writers, Edvard Munch, Polatin Fieve, Plato Phaedrus, Foster Jamison, Due Lithium’s, Jackson Pollock, bipolar disorder, mental illness, lithium effects, american psychiatric association, creative process, psychiatric association, american psychiatric, association 1994, jamison 1993, psychiatric association 1994, reported increase, mood swings, polatin fieve 1971, due stabilizing effects, schou 1979 study,