The myth that individuals with high IQ (HQI) suffer more from mental disorders than the general population has long persisted. However, a new study published by Ramus et al. (2023) present convincing evidence that this belief is unfounded. This study, the largest ever carried out on HQI, demonstrates that people with high IQ do not have a higher prevalence of mental disorders. On the contrary, they have a lower prevalence of anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress.
Evidence
Prevalence of Mental Disorders:
People with IQ do not have a higher prevalence of depression, addictions, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia when compared to individuals with average IQ (Williams et al., 2023).
When differences are observed, they show that individuals with HQI suffer less from anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress (Williams et al., 2023).
Non-Psychiatric Features:
Individuals with HQI no longer suffer from loneliness or insomnia and, in fact, have less social isolation and lower neuroticism scores (Williams et al., 2023).
However, people with IQH have a higher prevalence of certain allergies and myopia, although these findings have been observed in previous studies and are not yet fully understood (Williams et al., 2023).
Conclusion
The results of this study are clear: people with high IQs do not have worse mental health than those with average IQs; in fact, in some ways, they may have better mental health. It is essential that this information is disseminated to correct the prevalent misperception about HQIs and their supposed mental vulnerabilities.
Reference: Williams, CM, Peyre, H., Labouret, G., Fassaya, J., García, AG, Gauvrit, N., & Ramus, F. (2023). High intelligence is not associated with greater propensity for mental health disorders. European Psychiatry, 66(1), e3. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2343
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