Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder predict creativity

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Genetics
• Psychology

Background:

• Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are complex psychiatric conditions with known genetic components.
• Creativity is a complex human trait often associated with divergent thinking and unique cognitive styles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic overlap between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and creativity.
• To determine if polygenic risk scores for psychosis predict creative traits.

Main Methods:

• Utilized polygenic risk scores derived from genome-wide association studies for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Assessed creativity through artistic society membership and creative profession status in Icelandic and replication cohorts.
• Controlled for potential confounding factors such as genetic relatedness.

Main Results:

• Higher polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were significantly associated with creative professions and artistic society membership.
• These associations were consistent across both Icelandic and replication cohorts.
• The genetic link between creativity and psychosis could not be explained by increased relatedness.

Conclusions:

• This study provides evidence for shared genetic underpinnings between psychosis (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) and creativity.
• Genetic predisposition to psychiatric conditions may correlate with creative potential.
• Understanding these shared genetic roots could offer new insights into both mental health and human creativity.