BACKGROUND: Anecdotal and biographical reports suggest that bipolar disorder may be associated with high IQ or creativity, but evidence for any such connection is weak. AIMS: To investigate possible associations between scholastic achievement and later bipolar disorder, using prospective data, in a whole-population cohort study. METHOD: Using individual school grades from all individuals finishing compulsory schooling in Sweden between 1988 and 1997, we tested associations between scholastic achievement at age 15-16 and hospital admission for psychosis between ages 17 and 31, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Individuals with excellent school performance had a nearly fourfold increased risk of later bipolar disorder compared with those with average grades (hazard ratio HR = 3.79, 95% CI 2.11-6.82). This association appeared to be confined to males. Students with the poorest grades were also at moderately increased risk of bipolar disorder (HR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.06-3.28). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for the hypothesis that exceptional intellectual ability is associated with bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND: Anecdotal and biographical reports suggest that bipolar disorder may be associated with high IQ or creativity, but evidence for any such connection is weak. AIMS: To investigate possible associations between scholastic achievement and later bipolar disorder, using prospective data, in a whole-population cohort study. METHOD: Using individual school grades from all individuals finishing compulsory schooling in Sweden between 1988 and 1997, we tested associations between scholastic achievement at age 15-16 and hospital admission for psychosis between ages 17 and 31, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Individuals with excellent school performance had a nearly fourfold increased risk of later bipolar disorder compared with those with average grades (hazard ratio HR = 3.79, 95% CI 2.11-6.82). This association appeared to be confined to males. Students with the poorest grades were also at moderately increased risk of bipolar disorder (HR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.06-3.28). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for the hypothesis that exceptional intellectual ability is associated with bipolar disorder.
Authors: Alison K Merikangas; Lihong Cui; Monica E Calkins; Tyler M Moore; Ruben C Gur; Raquel E Gur; Kathleen R Merikangas Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-03-10 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Annabel Vreeker; Lucija Abramovic; Marco P M Boks; Sanne Verkooijen; Annet H van Bergen; Roel A Ophoff; René S Kahn; Neeltje E M van Haren Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-07-06 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Ashleigh Lin; Patsy Di Prinzio; Deidra Young; Peter Jacoby; Andrew Whitehouse; Flavie Waters; Assen Jablensky; Vera A Morgan Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2016-04-30 Impact factor: 9.306