Creative people 90% more likely to suffer schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression

CREATIVE people may be 90 per cent more likely to suffer from schizophrenia than the average person, new research suggests.

Bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia all develop more often in people who have degrees in artistic subjects, according to a study by King's College London.

It has previously been found that creative people's brains work differently, which scientists think may make them more at risk of mental-health problems.

A study of the entire Swedish population's medical and education records found those who studied subjects like music, drama or art at university have more psychiatric conditions than the general public.

People who studied law degrees do not have a higher risk, suggesting the increase is not caused by people going to university.

What is schizophrenia? Figures suggest around one per cent of the world population suffer with schizophrenia. Seven in ten hear voices at some point, making auditory hallucinations of the most common symptoms.

These voices, may be 'heard' as having a variety of different characteristics, for example as friendly or threatening.

Hearing voices - known as ‘verbal hallucinations’ - is highly distressing and a third of patients do not respond to medications.

The study's author Dr James Mccabe told the New Scientist: “Creativity often involves linking ideas or concepts in ways that other people wouldn’t think of.