Creativity & Mania

Abstract

This research explores how the implementation of therapeutic art experience could contribute to a stronger autonomy and address psychological pathologies for individuals seeking treatment for manic episode(s). In addition, the research highlights the strong link between creativity and mania, as both activate excessive levels of dopamine. The premise behind this study was created out of the hope to discover how the manic population can benefit from the implementation of creative expression and to contribute further understanding within the art therapy field, especially due to the fact that there is limited research on how to preserve the creative experience and individuals’ perception of their creativity within treatment for mania.

Mania & Creativity

Mania is a state often experienced by people with bipolar disorder, characterized by high energy, excitement, and sometimes impulsive behavior. During manic episodes, individuals feel an intense rush of ideas and emotions, which can fuel their creative thinking. This is partly because mania increases levels of a brain chemical called dopamine, which enhances the ability to generate new ideas and think outside the box. In other words, when someone is manic, they can experience a flood of creative thoughts and a strong drive to create, which can result in producing art, music, writing, or other creative work at a rapid pace.

However, this surge of creativity during mania comes with challenges. The same heightened energy and racing thoughts that spur creativity can also lead to impulsive and risky behavior, making it hard for individuals to focus and follow through on their projects. Additionally, while mania can enhance creativity, it is often difficult to manage because it disrupts regular life and can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion once the manic episode ends. This means that while the creative output during mania can be impressive, it may also be chaotic and hard to sustain.

Balancing the creative benefits of mania with its disruptive aspects is a delicate task. Art therapy offers a way to channel the creative energy from mania in a more controlled and supportive environment. By engaging in structured art therapy, individuals can explore their creativity without being overwhelmed by the chaotic nature of manic episodes. This helps them develop healthier ways to express their creativity and maintain a more stable emotional state.

Key Points of Literature Review

• Purpose of Literature Review
  • Explore the need for the study.
  • Identify gaps in the literature.
  • Focus on the role of art therapy in mitigating the negative effects of mania on the psychological well-being of creative individuals diagnosed with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder.
• Outpatient Setting and Benefits
  • Offered in outpatient psychiatric facilities.
  • Includes multiple therapy modalities, including art therapy.
  • Helps lower resistance in clients, making them more receptive to treatment (Drapeau & Kronish, 2007).
  • Encourages emotional exploration and autonomy development.
• Group Treatment Dynamics
  • Group settings enable self-expression through art and group interaction.
  • Fosters increased self-worth and social connectedness (Hartz and Thicke, 2007).
  • Emphasizes non-judgmental sharing, reducing pressure and intimidation.
• Person-Centered Approach Theory Overview
  • Theory Overview: Created by Carl Rogers, known as humanistic or client-centered therapy.
  • Focuses on self-direction and developing a “congruent person” (Murdock, 2017).
  • Based on core conditions: psychological contact, client incongruence, and therapist congruence.
• Person-Centered Approach: Therapist’s Role
  • Provide genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy.
  • Encourage clients to explore autonomy and self-direction.
  • Facilitate a balanced dynamic, reducing hierarchy in therapist-client relationships.
• Manic Episodes
  • Individuals with Bipolar or Schizoaffective experience manic episodes
  • Defined by periods of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least one week (DSM-5).
  • Symptoms include inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, racing thoughts, distractibility, increased activity, and risky behavior.
• Bipolar Disorder
  • Involves mood dysregulation with shifts from depression to mania.
  • Types: Bipolar I (manic episodes), Bipolar II (severe depression and hypomania), Cyclothymia (chronic mood fluctuations).
• Schizoaffective Disorder
  • Includes both schizophrenia and mood disorder symptoms.
  • Bipolar type features manic symptoms and psychotic symptoms.
• Mania & Creativity Research Focus
  • Strengthen self-concept through art therapy.
  • Eliminate the perception that mania is necessary for creativity.
• Mania’s Impact on Creativity
  • Mania can feel cathartic due to high dopamine levels.
  • Decreased inhibition and increased goal-directed activity.
  • Positive affect during mania enhances creativity through unusual word associations and problem-solving (Taylor et al., 2015).
• Self-Concept and Creativity: Creative Climate
  • Encourages autonomy, reducing limitations.
  • Increases intrinsic motivation and ownership of the creative process (Friedrich, Stenmark & Mumford, 2011).
• Self-Concept and Creativity: Impact on Well-being
  • Maladaptive self-concept can lead to interpersonal issues and self-stigma.
  • Art therapy in group settings can combat self-stigma and foster a sense of belonging (Van Lith, 2015).
• Imagery and the Self: Cognitive and Emotional Processing
  • Art therapy can improve cognitive functioning and self-concept.
  • Reflective discussions and art making help with problem-solving and emotional processing (Henley, 2007; Murray & Johnson, 2010).
• Mental Misconception: Creativity and Mood Stabilization
  • Art therapy can regulate mood and address concerns about losing creativity due to treatment (Taylor et al., 2015).
  • Creativity monitoring to balance treatment and creative identity (Johnson et al., 2016).
    

Definitions

Art therapy with groups. Due to the nature of groups, there can be an emphasis on sharing that helps develop a non-judgmental atmosphere (Drapeau & Kronish, 2007). When clients enter the creative art therapy group, which includes verbal sharing after the art making portion of the session, there is a chain reaction, i.e., one person’s willingness to open, leads others in the group to share their experience. The art component lowers defenses, which is followed by the sharing component (Drapeau & Kronish, 2007). Thereby, this two-phase process (art making and verbal sharing component) yields collective empowerment where clients can be inspired both on an individual and collective levels, thus enabling individuals to become active agents in their recovery.

Creativity. Creativity is a central component of the identity of this study’s prospective participants, as it has shaped the way they see themselves as a person with their disorder as well as an individual beyond their illness (Johnson et al., 2015). For the purpose of this study, the underlying principle will be that creativity is an essential emotional outlet and method of communication that has the ability to improve the rate and quality of anyone’s life, and in recovery.

Mania. “The essential feature of a manic episode is a distinct period during which there is an abnormally, persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and persistently increased activity or energy” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 127). For the purpose of this study, there will be an emphasis on how mania increases self-esteem, creates a “flight of ideas,” and develops a heightened interest in “goal-directed activity” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 128). Specifically, in this research, there will be an emphasis on the fact that mania and creativity are linked due to mania’s tendency to fuel creativity (and the creative process). 

Mental disorders. For the purposes of this study, the focus will mainly be on Bipolar I’s fully syndromal manic episode. However, there are a few other mental disorders which include mania, hypomania or have manic features that may be discussed (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These other mental disorders include: Bipolar II, Bipolar Disorders with Mixed Features, Cyclothymic Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Schizotypal, and Schizoaffective (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). 

Cognitive schemas & Self-Concept. Schemas are shaped by experience which encompass core beliefs (Murdock, 2017). Within the cognitive framework of treatment, therapists tackle these cognitive distortions to be more adaptive. The focus on cognitive schemas in this study stems from the possibility that individuals’ suffering from manic episodes may experience a shift in self-concept after exposure to art therapy sessions. Self-Concept is embedded within our cognitive schemas. In order to have a full grasp of one’s identity, one must continue to develop his or her self-concept. Self-Concept is defined as an “individual’s belief about himself or herself, including the person’s attributes and who and what the self is” (Baumeister, 1999).

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