http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20020524/creative-genius-linked-to-mental-illness
May 24, 2002 -- From Vincent Van Gogh to Sylvia Plath, the path from mental illness to creative genius has been well traveled by many artists and writers. Now, researchers say they are gaining new clues about the mysterious link between highly creative individuals and mental disorders, such as manic depression.
A new study shows that healthy artists are more similar in personality to people with manic depression than other healthy people in the population. Researchers presented the findings this week at the American Psychiatric Association Meeting in Philadelphia.