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Precis

  • Writer: Shelby Chapman
    Shelby Chapman
  • Mar 5, 2019
  • 3 min read

Updated: Apr 3, 2019

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

The following is a precis from my research article I'm working on which deals with creativity in individuals with bipolar disorder.

Jamison, K. (1993). Touched with fire : Manic-depressive illness and the artistic temperament. New York: Free Press.


Kay Jamison in her book, Touched with fire : Manic-depressive illness and the artistic temperament (1993) asserts that there is a connection to be seen between artistic ability and manic-depression. Jamison supports her claim by providing research on bipolar disorder in both artists and writers. The author’s purpose is to explain the connection between bipolar and artistic ability in order to break down the stereotypes and misinformation that exists in this connection. Her tone throughout is earnest and seeks to relate to a wide audience of readers with an interest in psychology.


Johnson, S. L., Murray, G., Fredrickson, B., Youngstrom, E. A., Hinshaw, S., Bass, J. M., Deckersbach, T., Schooler, J., … Salloum, I. (2011). Creativity and bipolar disorder: touched by fire or burning with questions?. Clinical psychology review, 32(1), 1-12.


Murray, Fredrickson, Youngstrom, Hinshaw, Bass, Deckersbach, Schooler, and Salloum, in the meta-analysis, Creativity and bipolar disorder: Touched by fire or burning with questions? (2012) explain that there is little quantitative research on creative ability in those with bipolar disorder. Murray, et. al., states and supports the idea that more research is necessary by supplying results that found family members without bipolar disorder for those at risk exhibited heightened creativity. The author’s purpose is to highlight the variables/conditions that need to be focused on in later research, to help make further improvements. The author writes in a relaxed tone for layperson’s who wish for a clear-cut answer on the subject.


Rotherberg, A. (2001). Bipolar Illness, Creativity, and Treatment. Psychiatric Quarterly, 72(2), 131. https://doi-org.libproxy.plymouth.edu/10.1023/A:10110367525951


Rothenberg, in his article, Bipolar Illness, Creativity, and Treatment (2001) suggests that there are connections between creative ability and specific visual artists, such as Pollock and Munch. Rothenberg supports his argument by pointing to the psychological states of the artists at various points in their creative lives. The author’s purpose is to assert that despite there being a connection, going without treatment will serious impact the individual’s life, this is to remove some of the romantization association with the connection. The author writes in a serious tone and directs his words to creative individuals who might be reading.


Simeonova, D. I., Chang, K. D., Strong, C. & Ketter, T. A. (2005) Creativity in familial bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research 39:623 – 31.


Simeonova, Chang, Strong, and Ketter, in the article, Creativity in familial bipolar disorder (2005) imply that not only is there an increase of creativity in individuals with bipolar disorder, but also in their affected children as well. Simeonova, et al. supports this claim by giving the quantitative research they found showing heightened creativity in the bipolar/ADHD children of parents with bipolar disorder. The author’s purpose is to give evidence for this connection empirically in order to cover a new area of research that hasn’t be supported previously. The author writes in a formal tone in a scientific journal for their research peers.


Weisberg, R.W. (1994). GENIUS AND MADNESS? A Quasi-Experimental Test of the Hypothesis That Manic-Depression Increases Creativity. Psychological Science (0956-7976), 5(6), 361-367. https://doi- org.libproxy.plymouth.edu/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1994.tb00286.x


Weisberg, in his article, GENIUS AND MADNESS? A Quasi-Experimental Test of the Hypothesis That Manic-Depression Increases Creativity (1994) argue that there is little evidence to support the notion that mania causes an increase in creativity. Weisberg supports his argument by referring to his research on a composer with bipolar disorder, Robert Schumann, referencing an increase in the quantity of his work during mania, but a loss of quality. The author’s purpose is to determine if a case study’s results would align with the thoughts on mania and creativity that society has in order to further prove or disprove past research. The author writes in a formal tone to address other researchers in his field.

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