title: [Music as a symptom].
abstract: The contents of this presentation are the consequence o reading the book Infectious Diseases and Music where the authors Drs. Gomis and Sánchez describe the infections suffered by more than fourty composers or interpreters. Although infections were more prevalent, intense psychological repercussions were also frequent. Reviewing the biographies of Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven I have selected some specially dramatic paragraphs of letters addressed for relatives and friends describing their intense and permanent physical and psychological disturbances which probably influenced the contents and style of their creations. Depression, anxiety and specially bipolar conditions with frequent and intense maniac phases were common but not exclusive to composers. Other artists and painters or poets also complained of similar disturbances. During their maiac states the artists perceive sounds and visual stimuli as well as their personal experiences with increased intensity and liveliness. Language is more fluid and their creativity and productivity become more powerful.
authors.affiliation: Académico de Número.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Portera Sánchez
mesh_terms: D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D007239:Infections / Q000266:history*; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D009146:Music