Biomaterial Database

Reflections on creativity and madness. 1989

A M Ludwig

Department of Psychiatry, A.B. Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536.

The author reflects on the long-assumed relationship between creativity and madness. He comes to the conclusion that, while not a prerequisite, a touch of madness could enhance creativity. He attempts to define creativity and breaks it down into the basic elements of creative person, creative process, and creative product. He touches on the influence of a particular culture on the emergence of creative works.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003405	Creativity	The ability to generate new ideas or images.	Creativeness,Innovativeness,Originality,Artistic Creativity,Creative Ability,Creative Thinking,Ability, Creative,Creative Abilities,Creativity, Artistic,Thinking, Creative
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001523	Mental Disorders	Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function.	Mental Illness,Psychiatric Diseases,Psychiatric Disorders,Psychiatric Illness,Behavior Disorders,Diagnosis, Psychiatric,Mental Disorders, Severe,Psychiatric Diagnosis,Illness, Mental,Mental Disorder,Mental Disorder, Severe,Mental Illnesses,Psychiatric Disease,Psychiatric Disorder,Psychiatric Illnesses,Severe Mental Disorder,Severe Mental Disorders