A-students four times more likely to have bipolar disorder

THE brightest school children are also those most likely to suffer a serious mental illness as adults, research has shown.

Scientists found that top pupils were four times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than those with average grades.

The condition is characterised by extreme mood swings alternating between depression and mania.

Previous research and anecdotal evidence from famous and creative individuals have suggested a link between high IQ and bipolar disorder. But until now, the scientific evidence for such an association has been weak.

The new study looked at 713,876 individuals in Sweden, where all children take compulsory exams at the age of 15 and 16.

Hospital records and school reports were used to match academic achievement with the chances of having bipolar disorder between the ages of 17 and 31.

Students with excellent exam results had an almost four-fold greater likelihood of being diagnosed with the condition than those whose performance was average.

Children with the poorest grades were also more at risk, the research showed. They were almost twice as likely to develop bipolar disorder as average achievers.

The findings are reported today in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Lead researcher Dr James MacCabe, from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, said: “We found that achieving an A grade is associated with increased risk for bipolar disorder, particularly in humanities and to a lesser extent in science subjects.

“A-grades in Swedish and music had particularly strong associations, supporting the literature which consistently finds associations between linguistic and musical creativity and bipolar disorder.”

The scientists suggest several possible explanations for the link.

They pointed out that people in elevated mood states can often be witty and inventive, and able to link ideas in innovative ways.

People with bipolar disorder also tended to be highly emotional, which may help their talent in art, music and literature. Thirdly, people who are mildly manic often have extraordinary stamina and can maintain concentration for long periods of time.

Dr MacCabe emphasised while “having A grades increases your chances of bipolar disorder in later life, we should remember that the majority of people with A grades enjoy good mental health”.