Why is 'extremely intelligent' listed among important factors in psychiatric reviews? Why is it relevant?

Question

Why does intelligence, in particular high, take such a prominent place in details shared about mentally unwell people. (Always given a paragraph even in a very brief synopsis) Is it because it indicates a particular illness or because it affects progress? Any informed answers greatly appreciated it's too specific and complicated to google and I don't want to directly ask a health professional.

Thank you very much for the answers so far, I genuinely do appreciate the help. It was impossible to investigate without suitable search terms.

This is a part of an email written to majnun99 (7th answer) I am hoping to clarify my meaning when I asked the question. The broader answers are fascinating; please continue to post those too.

'I am talking about reports made following initial psychiatric assessments. They list current state of mind, state whether suicide ideation and specific plans are in existence. Then usually include a brief history of external factors before referring to extreme/particular intelligence and sometimes list anti depressants that have failed to work.

Having read one of the answers perhaps they are flagging possible bipolar disorder, or trying to help the health worker 'pitch' their communications; do you know of any other reasons why this could be consider relevant in relatively short reports?'

I'm not asking for a diagnosis, aware this will occur in due course but am intrigued as the 'intelligence' comment has featured in all assessments I have seen (about 5 in total) It seems immaterial.

Answer 1

Well maybe because people wiht bipolar disorder are ussually emtremely intelligent and artistic. This might be a question relating to bipolar.

Answer 2

I have worked in mental health since 1987 and I honestly don't know what you mean. Could you give an example?

The psychiatrist will generally make an estimation of the patient's intellect and might say "high IQ", "average", "below average" or "mentally retarded." Information like this is helpful in treating the patient. Will they be compliant with treatment? Will they understand what the psychiatrist tells them?

I have never seen where a higher intellect was displayed "prominently" where an average or low intellect was not.

The DSM-IV classification system for mental health (used in the USA) works like this:

Axis I: Clinical Disorders (such as depression, psychosis, etc.)
Axis II: IQ, Mental Retardation and/or Personality Disorders (if present) (could include things like a tendency to be manipulative, etc.)
Axis III: Physical Illness
Axis IV: Psychosocial Stressors (did the patient just get divorced, lose his job, etc.)
Axis V: Global Assessment Scale (a number score estimating the inviduals overall functioning from 1-very low to 100-very high).

Are you talking about movies and TV shows or the news media? That would be up to the people in those professions if they do that and it has little or nothing to do with mental health professionals.

Answer 3

Being highly intelligent doesn't make you mentally unwell. But if you do have a mental illness, intelligence actually does affect your progress because you will be better equipped to analyze your condition and understand what has caused it and what can cure it. You will be an active participant in your treatment rather than just a passive consumer of received wisdom. This is not only valuable to your own confidence and self-esteem, but also is very helpful to the mental health professional treating you. You can work as a team.

Answer 4

You would need to take an abnormal pyschology class for the complete details. Low IQ is only prominent for a few diagnosises like MR, down's syndrome, microcephaly, etc.. Sometimes IQ can even identify smart folks who are faking multiple personalities or schizo behavior....

Extremely intelligent usually is applied to autism or aspergers syndrome because it is a difficulty interacting with people or having a lack of empathy that cannot be gained by normal interaction with others. The lack of wanting to interact with people and make eye contact (or any other portion of a diagnosis) cannot be explained away by a low IQ.

You might want to ask a revised question with the diagnosis or google the diagnosis with DSM-IV and you will see the actual criteria that was used to come up with any diagnosis. If you see a discreprancy, get a second opinion from a different doctor. Mistakes often happen in an objective field.

Answer 5

High intelligence is an interesting thing in mentally ill people. Someone who's good with words and arguments might convince you that they're more or less ill than they actually are.

For example, a person might be feeling suicidal, but they could be really scared of what would happen to them if they told the mental health professional that. So they use their intelligence to work out feasible things to say, whilst eliminating thoughts that they think might get them into 'trouble'.

Intelligence with regards to performance at work or in school probably refers to their ability to function. Someone with a mental illness, who gets top grades at school, a first-class degree, a competitive job and a promotion every year isn't necessary less ill than someone who's forced to live with their parents, in a low-earning job or unemployed. The first person is simply more highly-functioning.

Also, it's useful for health professionals to know about the intelligence of their patients, to give them an idea as to how to speak to someone. For example, a psychiatrist might speak differently to someone with a psychology degree to someone who knows absolutely nothing about mental illness. A person's intelligence gives some clue as to the best kind of language to use in order to communicate with them.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

My daughter is 13 and has ADHD but she has a very high IQ.This has become a nightmare because teachers cannot understand how she cannot control her behaviour if she is intelligent (I have to agree).Does anyone have a daughter or female friend with ADHD and how do the symptoms differ between girls and boys.

This is a Question I asked about my daughter.^^^^^^^^^^^
I wonder if they ask questions relating to intelligence to see if a person is intelligent enough to be aware of their condition of their actions.My child is highly intelligent and I am aware that this question was asked a lot by her psychiatrist,like how she was doing at school what grades she was getting etc.
It actually helped in diagnosing my child with her condition because my daughter actually has the male traits of ADHD,shes not daydreamy(girl condition tending to lead to lower grades) but she is serverly inatentive and hyperactive/kinetic although this was being masked by her level of intelligence.

Answer 8

The myth is that mentally ill people are not intelligent. Studies show that many mentally ill people have average or above average intelligence. Check out the site below. It might interest you...It wasn't too hard to find.
Why is it relevant? Just part of the fact finding, I guess.

Answer 9

It is a test of likely response to treatment. Some patients question everything, and so are very useful as psychodynamic patients or those benefitting from cognitive therapy. Such patients can localise their thoughts.
"Abnormal Psychology" classes do not exist. "Abnormal" is a matter of opinion, and not politically correct. We would never use this terminology.

Answer 10

If you need to ask that question... don't apply for the job lol