Discussion Intelligent people and mental illness

[theboy]

First of all, I would like to mention that the smartest people are not always the ones who make the best decisions. Nor is a high IQ a guarantee of success or certainty of happiness. However, it is in most cases, they are outstanding in what they do, which would lead to infer that they do make good decisions and, therefore, succeed. However, the dark side is that these people are the ones who are most trapped in the knot of their worries, in the abyss of existential anguish and in that hopelessness that consumes the reserves of optimism.

We are used to know that great physicists, mathematicians, chemists or literary historians suffered from a mental illness.

Is there a direct association between a high IQ and depression?

Let's take a look at the basics (don't worry, we'll get to the point in no time).

What is IQ?

IQ, abbreviated QI, is a tool for estimating the general intelligence of individuals, obtained by means of a specialized measurement popularly known as a "test".

How is IQ measured?

The American psychologist David Weschler created the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) in 1939 and to date it is one of the most widely used to measure IQ.

Types of intelligence

- Logical-mathematical intelligence

- Spatial or visual intelligence

- Linguistic-verbal intelligence

- Musical intelligence

- Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence

- Intrapersonal intelligence

- Interpersonal intelligence

- Naturalistic intelligence

The MENSA study

researchers from the Department of Psychology at Pitzer College (USA) interviewed 3,715 members of the American Mensa NGO for the gifted with an IQ over 130. Mensa has 120,000 members worldwide (only 2,000 in Spain) and to belong to this international association of gifted people you have to be in the 98th percentile or higher, that is, to score in the top 2% of the general population. To refresh our memory with the scores, obtaining an IQ between 85 and 115 means having average or normal intelligence. And IQ is obtained through a standardized test designed to assess intelligence.Mensa, an association of people with high IQ with representation in many countries.

Respondents had to answer whether at some point in their lives they had been diagnosed with a mental illness such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or autism (autism spectrum disorder), as well as whether they suffered from depression, mood swings or anxiety or suspected undiagnosed mental illness, and physiological illnesses such as asthma and food allergies.

The results of the research, which were published in Intelligence magazine.

After comparing these data with the national statistical average for each disease, they found overwhelming data: members of the Mensa community had significantly higher rates of various disorders compared to the U.S. national average statistics.

The authors of the study espouse a theory that the higher the intelligence, the more aware people are of their surroundings and the more intense their reactions. Specifically, it postulates that a higher IQ is associated with hyper-reactivity of the nervous system, which causes apparently simple stimuli, such as an unusual noise, to provoke a stress response that becomes chronic, and it is this chronic stress that justifies the greater vulnerability to diseases related to the immune system, given the relationship that exists between the two variables.

This is a "definitive" study linking intelligence with mental illness, although there are several others that support it.

Recommended reading

The "creative brain" is a very useful book to understand how the mind and brain of the most intelligent and creative people work. In it, the neurologist Nancy Andreasen makes a meticulous study with which she demonstrates that there is a quite significant tendency of the geniuses of our society to develop different disorders: bipolar disorders, depressions, anxiety crises and panic disorders especially.

Globally accepted IQ table

1 to 24 : profound mental disability

25 to 39: severe mental disability

40 to 54: moderate mental disability

55 to 69: mild mental disability

70 to 84 : borderline mental disability

85-114 : average intelligence

115 to 129 : Above average

130 to 144 : Moderately gifted

145 to 159 : Very gifted

160 to 179 : Exceptionally gifted

180 and upwards : Deeply gifted



Thank you for reading

 

[Ash’Girl]

I think that mental illness does not discriminate - it can hit anyone. But considering (although I've no idea if I am or ever was MENSA standard) I was one of those "child prodigies" in my youth (according to other people), yet always chronically depressed, I imagine there is some merit in this.

Overthinking is both a blessing and a curse - though I don't know if overthinking is directly correlated with IQ. I imagine not. But it does cause additional stress and worry. As does pressure to always achieve high standards in everything (for me, it was more self imposed than anything else - I was a ridiculous over achiever, however as a kid I was one of those annoying people who didn't really have to try hard to make the grades, not so much now - don't use it, lose it?)

Now I see a lot of where I wasted potential and that adds to my depressive state. I can see like a butterfly effect where choices I made set me on certain paths. There's that overthinking again.

Now I overthink life in general and end up in existential crisis because of it. I don't see the point to life (or my life, specifically). I can logically see where other people would enjoy and take satisfaction from life even if I feel separate from it.

I can also logically see every step I took to try to make a life that held meaning to me, as well as where I might have failed in that regard.

I also struggle with my mental health in terms of support from "professionals" and I always have, because I understand how my brain works, how I'm wired and why. Therefore they cannot give me "answers" that I don't already know. I think this makes them feel in some ways impotent and redundant and they seem to think if I know the answers and also what they deem the "solutions" why don't I just implement them? So in essence, there has always been somewhat of an attitude of "you do it to yourself" with me. It's predominantly not a chemical imbalance, but just how my brain is wired, and CBT/DBT techniques assisted with me looking at myself from outside the box and thus not taking things out on other people, but it can't change my default thought processes nor the intensity of my emotions.

I've gone off on a tangent. Meh. I never was great at summarising.

 

[Doombox]

I think another thing people with high IQ's can do is synthesize information from different sources to come up with new ideas and conclusions. I think a combination of high IQ and training in critical thinking skills could make a person unstoppable. I've wondered if the higher rate of mental illness is due to the struggles that bright children face growing up, and a schism that can develop between an advanced logical mind and a damaged emotional mind. Unfortunately, no matter how smart you are, it's the emotional mind that is driving the car.

 

[Achlys]

I presume you are referencing this study? Since the sample consists only of MENSA members, I would keep in mind that there may very well be sampling bias at play. For instance, perhaps it is instead the case that those who join MENSA have a higher likelihood of psychological disorders and physiological diseases? After all, the population of MENSA members may not accurately represent the wider population of high-intelligence individuals as a whole. I did some searching, and a more recent study with a much wider (and ostensibly less-biased) sample yielded opposing findings. It should be noted that this study is yet to be peer-reviewed, however. All in all, I'm a bit skeptical of the presence of association, let alone causation. At the very least, I don't think there is enough data to support such a conclusion. This topic is certainly interesting, though.

On an unrelated note, perhaps this discussion is better suited in the off-topic sub-forum?

 

[theboy]

I presume you are referencing this study? Since the sample consists only of MENSA members, I would keep in mind that there may very well be sampling bias at play. For instance, perhaps it is instead the case that those who join MENSA have a higher likelihood of psychological disorders and physiological diseases? After all, the population of MENSA members may not accurately represent the wider population of high-intelligence individuals as a whole. I did some searching, and a more recent study with a much wider (and ostensibly less-biased) sample yielded opposing findings. It should be noted that this study is yet to be peer-reviewed, however. All in all, I'm a bit skeptical of the presence of association, let alone causation. At the very least, I don't think there is enough data to support such a conclusion. This topic is certainly interesting, though.

On an unrelated note, perhaps this discussion is better suited in the off-topic sub-forum?

Well, of course studies have biases since it is practically impossible for a study to be 100% objective. Why? because humans by nature are not completely objective. Each study will have influences by each scientist that will affect the outcome of the study. On the other hand, I don't think that those who join MENSA are more inclined. In any case, the studies that seek "the truth" are complex... I suppose that we should only use the studies as a base of information.

Oh, and yes, perhaps this information should be elsewhere on the wiki. I am sorry :(

 

[Nikalakon]

There's been tons of experimental studies on this over the years, starting more than 40 years ago with:

Alloy, L. B., & Abramson, L. Y. (1979). Judgment of contingency in depressed and nondepressed students: Sadder but wiser? Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 108(4), 441–485.

More recently, despite studies still being conducted on this, leading studies have moved in a different direction focusing instead on temperament. Here's a quote from psychologist and Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahneman:
"One reason for the low correlation between individuals' circumstances and their satisfaction with life is that both experienced happiness and life satisfaction are largely determined by the genetics of temperament. A disposition for well-being is as heritable as height or intelligence, as demonstrated by studies of twins separated at birth. People who appear equally fortunate vary greatly in how happy they are."

So much in life, and more than most are willing to admit, largely because of ego, is determined by pure luck. This includes if you were born with an optimistic temperament...

 

[Doombox]

There's been tons of experimental studies on this over the years, starting more than 40 years ago with:

Alloy, L. B., & Abramson, L. Y. (1979). Judgment of contingency in depressed and nondepressed students: Sadder but wiser? Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 108(4), 441–485.

More recently, despite studies still being conducted on this, leading studies have moved in a different direction focusing instead on temperament. Here's a quote from psychologist and Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahneman:
"One reason for the low correlation between individuals' circumstances and their satisfaction with life is that both experienced happiness and life satisfaction are largely determined by the genetics of temperament. A disposition for well-being is as heritable as height or intelligence, as demonstrated by studies of twins separated at birth. People who appear equally fortunate vary greatly in how happy they are."

So much in life, and more than most are willing to admit, largely because of ego, is determined by pure luck. This includes if you were born with an optimistic temperament...

Yeah, it's an evolutionary advantage for a species to have members with different temperaments.

 

[The Abyss]

Early life experiences combined with opportunities matter more than intelligence imo, those vital years shape your perspective & options.

There are exceptions (or exceptional ppl) that overcome but they're not the rule.

A highly intelligent person is more likely to suffer depression due to seeing the limits of the game & being isolated in a crowd due to different perspectives of reality.