Igniting The Creative Fire: The Neurobiology Of Creativity In Bipolar Disorder

Van Gogh, Beethoven and Edgar Allan Poe were luminaries in their respective fields of art, music and poetry. Their passion for their art forms kindled a creative fire of productivity that affects humanity centuries later. Yet, all of them, like many other creative artists, poets and musicians, suffered from depression or bipolar disorder. In this age of advancement in the neurosciences we have been empowered to explore the age old question that this pardox presents: Is "madness" a part and parcel of "creative genius?" In this seminar we will explore the links between mood disorders and profound creativity. We will go below the surface-level historical links and epidemiological associations and explore the neurobiology of mood disorders and that of creativity to come to an empirically-based answer. In doing so, this seminar will examine the junctions between art, medicine, neuroscience and ethics, and attempt to uncover the secrets of what moves us emotionally as humans.
Dr. Mohammad Alsuwaidan directs the psychiatry specialty clinic at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital in Kuwait. He is an assistant professor of psychiatry at both Kuwait University and the University of Toronto. He is the Program Director for the Kuwait Board of Psychiatry Residency Training Program. He previously served as Founding Head of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Inaugural Director of Education and Interim Chief of Psychiatry at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health.
Dr. Alsuwaidan completed his psychiatry residency, mood & anxiety disorders fellowship and medical education fellowship at the University of Toronto. He also trained in mood disorders at the Stanford University bipolar clinic and the Tufts Medical Center mood disorders clinic. He completed a Masters of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is certified in public health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
For more information please visit www.MohammadAlsuwaidan.com

[@Sociopathick]

Every single artist here I heavily identified with in so many ways thinking that somehow they were the only ones that could represent how I felt. Like they somehow understood. Didn’t know they had bipolar too. It makes me feel so seen

[@MrMikkyn]

This is a great topic. I am musician and was recently diagnosed from Bipolar Type II, and can relate to this topic very well. I would love to hear more about this topic. I also have An Unquiet Mind and Touched With Fire. Being artistic and creative and Bipolar Type II is intense, in one sense the creativity can be too creative at one point. But supressing the creativity feels like spiritual death.The approach you suggested in this lecture is great. To encourage the patient to experience some negative emotion, to skillfully combine medicine but also non medical solutions to improving the patients wellbeing like family, meditation, excercise, therapy, etc.

[@sapphirepokemonfan]

You’re so empathetic and understanding. Thank you so much for validating me in this way.

[@abyzed88]

This is awesome, in primary school, I loved to read, in highschool I was the best research student, then I was interested in drama but i couldn't memorize the script so I dropped it, I joined dance but i couldn't follow the choreography, now I love to write and watch intelligent videos like this ones. I want to write a book, God - willing, I was also diagnosed with bipolar manic depressive and schizophrenia but i am positive and proud of my creative side. Thanks a lot.

[@hafsacm]

I was waiting for such insights for months... since you mentioned the relationship between the bipolar disorder and creativity on instagram... Thank you very much ! I really enjoyed it ..

[@Shams_Hussam99]

Thank you so much, Doctor.

[@razegod]

brilliant presentation, thankyou so much

[@marklimbrick]

Some of your biographical detail has not been fact checked. Van Gogh for example with the cornfield painting and suicide time frames. What you have to say is so interesting this lazy approach is a shame because I for one need to be confident in how you are reasoning the opinion.