瑞典研究人员发现，从事创造性工作的人群患精神疾病的风险更高；其中，作家患躁郁症、精神分裂症以及滥用药物的风险要明显高于其他人，他们自杀的可能性是普通人群的两倍。研究人员指出，这一发现说明我们可以从一个新的角度看待精神类障碍，其某些特质可能对人是有帮助的。比如：孤独症人群对于某一领域浓厚专注的兴趣以及躁郁症人群因某事物表现出的狂热动力可能是成就天才的必要因素。由此，医生和患者在商定治疗方案时就要决定取舍，哪些病态特质需要治疗，而哪些有益的特质可以免于治疗。

Creativity is often part of a mental illness, with writers particularly susceptible, according to a study of more than a million people.

Creativity is often part of a mental illness, with writers particularly susceptible, according to a study of more than a million people.

Writers had a higher risk of anxiety and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, unipolar depression, and substance abuse, the Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute found.

They were almost twice as likely as the general population to kill themselves.

The dancers and photographers were also more likely to have bipolar disorder.

As a group, those in the creative professions were no more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders than other people.

But they were more likely to have a close relative with a disorder, including anorexia and, to some extent, autism, the Journal of Psychiatric Research reports.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Kyaga said the findings suggested disorders should be viewed in a new light and that certain traits might be beneficial or desirable.

For example, the restrictive and intense interests of someone with autism and the manic drive of a person with bipolar disorder might provide the necessary focus and determination for genius and creativity.

Similarly, the disordered thoughts associated with schizophrenia might spark the all-important originality element of a masterpiece.

Dr Kyaga said: "If one takes the view that certain phenomena associated with the patient's illness are beneficial, it opens the way for a new approach to treatment.

"In that case, the doctor and patient must come to an agreement on what is to be treated, and at what cost.

"In psychiatry and medicine generally there has been a tradition to see the disease in black-and-white terms and to endeavor to treat the patient by removing everything regarded as morbid."

Beth Murphy, head of information at Mind, said bipolar disorder personality traits could be beneficial to those in creative professions, but it may also be that people with bipolar disorder are more attracted to professions where they can use their creative skills.

"It is important that we do not romanticize people with mental health problems, who are too often portrayed as struggling creative geniuses.

"We know that one in four people will be diagnosed with a mental health problem this year and that these individuals will come from a range of different backgrounds, professions and walks of live. Our main concern is that they get the information and support that they need and deserve."

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(Agencies)

Vocabulary:

bipolar disorder：躁郁症也称双重情绪失调，是一种情绪在躁狂（高潮）和抑郁（低潮）之间摇摆不定的失调症。

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen ）