The Link Between Mood Disorders and Creativity
Do you often find yourself wondering what inspired your favourite film or song? Or what the artist’s mindset was in the process of creation?
With art of all stripes continually enthralling us we can’t help question whether the ghost of the tortured artist is present and an epidemic amongst some of the world’s most prolific creative types. In many of these cases it’s the tragedy of mood disorders that have influenced and provoked various artists to create. This could, perhaps even be somebody that you know.
Steve Ellen is a Psychiatrist and Director of the Psychological Oncology Program at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. He spoke with Nic on the connection between mood disorders and creativity.
