Question:
Can anyone direct me to reliable informationa about the occurrence of higher than average IQ concurrent with a dx of BPD? thanks martha
As posted by someone at an earlier date in this group, the October issue of _Discover_ magazine contains an article bearing on this subject. "That Fine Madness" contains a rather negative analysis of studies of the link between BMD and genius. There is no bibliography or list of references but you can get the research study names out of main text of the article. The article notes that Kay Jamison, herself a BPD sufferer, has asserted in several articles and a book there is a correlation between creative genius and BPD. Of course, nobody is saying that all creative geniuses had or have BPD, but a number of people say in print a lot of them did/do. As I said, the author of the _Discover_ article disputes the validity of these studies. If you read the masthead carefully, you will find that _Discover_ is owned by the Disney Corporation, so you could if you wish regard the article as sort of a Mickey Mouse analysis. There was an insightful TV interview of Art Buchwald and Mike Wallace, BPD sufferers whom I think of as creative geniuses. The statements made in this interview (a transcript of which was posted earier in this group) I consider anecdotal evidence for a link. I have a high IQ and am a BMD sufferer, but that doesn’t prove anything. Almost everyone I am closely acquainted with, and most members of my extended family, has a high IQ but none of them are BMD sufferers. One friend is a genius, has all the clinical signs of hypomania, but is the most level-headed and reasonable person I know. So much for anecdotal evidence. On the personal level, I know for a fact that when I am hypomanic, my general intelligence (what IQ tests supposedly measure) goes up, and my problem-solving ability goes way up. I also notice my "use vocabulary" expands. Whether hypomanic or not, I know the same number of words, but when hypomanic I can get at more of them. Go figure. Unfortunately, when I am hypomanic my ability to concentrate drops dramatically and my attention span is less than 10 minutes. It is like having a Corvette or a Bonnyville, very powerful cars, with a slipping clutch. Or the same car on a grease-covered road. The power is there but you can’t apply it effectively. Asides: 1. There is a danger inherent in making learned analyses of the link between IQ and madness: some people by mistake think the maniac to be brilliant; contrawise, people can and often do think brilliant persons are nut cases ["That thing will never fly..."]. In one of his poems, John Dryden (1631-1700) observed upon the nearness between great intellectual power and insanity: "Great Wits are sure to Madness near alli’d/And thin Paritions do their Bounds divide." (_Absalom and Achitophel_, 1) 2. Perhaps BMD is to human intelligence like the grain of sand is to the oyster. In the oyster, the irritant produces a pearl, in the human mind BMD produces pearls of wisdom (sometimes). David Ferrier
Response:
This is not official, nor is it reliable, but I do believe we’re generally smarter than the average bear.
Response:
This is not official, nor is it reliable, but I do believe we’re generally smarter than the average bear.
Then where the hell is my pick-a-nick basket??? LOGICA DEFECTA STERCUS TAURUS EXPLORANDUS EST
Response:
Can anyone direct me to reliable informationa about the occurrence of higher than average IQ concurrent with a dx of BPD? thanks martha
I don’t know if this will help or not… My IQ was 153 before I got BPD. I also have DID and PTSD… my mind is no longer what it used to be. My memory is constantly full of holes. <sigh.I’d guess that my IQ has dropped at least 40-50 points if not more. I’m not clueless, but concentration is impossible. LostChild
Response:
Can anyone direct me to reliable informationa about the occurrence of higher than average IQ concurrent with a dx of BPD? thanks martha
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