History Main / ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder

Although obviously more extreme than in real life, this sort of thing is TruthInTelevision (or other media): some medications used to treat mental illness leave the patient drained of energy, unable to think clearly, cut off from the full use of the senses, or any combination thereof. This is one factor in some of the many [[MadArtist historical geniuses]] and others who refuse to take their medication, preferring insanity to a lackluster funk. {{Tech Bro}}s may have this trope carried over but they tend to be subtle about [[VisionaryVillain it in favor of]] [[VillainWithGoodPublicity their image]].

Although obviously more extreme than in real life, this sort of thing is TruthInTelevision (or other media): some medications used to treat mental illness leave the patient drained of energy, unable to think clearly, cut off from the full use of the senses, or any combination thereof. This is one factor in some of the many [[MadArtist historical geniuses]] and others who refuse to take their medication, preferring insanity to a lackluster funk.

* Supervillains often suffer from "Malign Hypercognition Disorder" in ''Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible''. It's stated that the MadScientist types will go this way when they are at the far-right edge of the bell curve.

* Most versions of ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' revolve around Bruce Banner's attempts to resolve his... shall we say, emotional issues?

* A filler issue of ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' [[ADayInTheLimelight focuses on]] the Looter, a second-rate scientist turned super-powered but still second-rate villain. The Looter's ego makes him constantly try to outmaneuver Spider-Man, and this culminates in his being brutally beaten by the "ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan". Later, at a [[TropaholicsAnonymous villain support group]] meeting, he acknowledges that he [[ReluctantPsycho may have a problem]], because even though he logically knows that he will be beaten even worse or killed if he encounters Spider-Man again, he can't stop himself because he "knows" he's superior to everyone else and has to show it by committing crimes.

* In the ''Literature/KnownSpace'' story "Madness Has Its Place", it's revealed that [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction ARM]] (the technology-suppressing SecretPolice branch of the U.N.) deliberately employs sociopaths and paranoid schizophrenics, though they're issued mandatory medication. The main character is one (he's implied to be a former serial killer), but in order to help prepare a defense against the approaching Kzinti aliens, he goes off his medication. His descent into paranoia and sociopathy make him frighteningly competent at war preparations for a humanity that hasn't known war in centuries. The ARM also creates treatments to ''artificially'' induce paranoid schizophrenia and other disorders in its agents, in case enough naturally occurring crazies of the right sort are unavailable.

* Oliver Sacks' book ''Literature/TheManWhoMistookHisWifeForAHat'' mentions a jazz drummer who has Tourette's Syndrome. He would take his anti-Tourette meds during the week and be less prone to compulsions, but stop taking them for the weekend so he could do the wild drum improvisations that made him a desirable musician.

* ''Series/{{House}}'': The title character seems to need his physical pain and emotional bitterness in order to keep his remarkable (if unorthodox) medical talent. When he tries methadone, he finds himself pain-free, cleans himself up, and seems genuinely happy... until he realizes that he's lost his edge. Being pain-free made him act uncharacteristically nice and accommodating to the worried parents of his patient which directly resulted in creating a health problem when the kid had actually just been dehydrated (he had a reaction to the contrast dye in their first test; everything else stemmed from that). When he was in a relationship with Cuddy, a patient died as a direct result of him losing his edge because he was happy. He told her that their relationship had killed a patient, and would continue to kill patients. ''And it was worth it''. Making things even worse for him, ''too much pain'' has a similar effect. When his Vicodin is cut off, the pain becomes so intense that he gets sloppy and almost gets a little girl's arm cut off when he misdiagnoses her porphyria as necrotizing fascitis.
* ''Series/Perception2012'' has Dr. Daniel Pierce, a paranoid schizophrenic neuroscientist that aids the FBI if there is a case that involves the brain in some way. His schizophrenia actually helps him on cases by giving him clues about what his mind unconsciously sees but he doesn't through hallucinations of people that are somehow related to the theme of the case.

** In ''VideoGame/Portal2'' it's revealed that the central programming for testing [[AIGettingHigh produces a data burst akin to pleasure for the main A.I. when a test is completed]], but the A.I. rapidly develops an immunity to it. This becomes a plot point when [[spoiler:Wheatley takes over and begins to suffer "test withdrawal"]].

** A GaslampFantasy series that calls this disorder "[[TheSparkOfGenius The Spark]]". Those affected are often called Sparks, or are said to have "The Spark". No cure in sight short of massive, irreversible brain damage. But the Spark who's working on it is getting ''much'' better about that whole "quality of life" thing! Sparks are compelled to build things -- often ''extremely dangerous'' things -- with little to no regard for consequences. It's been called "TheMadnessPlace", with three known levels. After the first, concern for safety starts to falter a bit -- ''all'' safety.

* Website/SFDebris, a former teacher and someone who has worked with the mentally disabled, has remarked that he dislikes this trope as it undermines the achievements of mentally disabled people by suggesting that their disorders the source of their brilliance, rather than them being smart, hard-working people living with a condition that actually hinders their ability to succeed in life.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' has Barry, Steve's mentally disabled best friend, go off his meds. He goes from a sweet, mentally-disabled child to a EvilBrit mad genius. It turns out that those pills have been keeping his SuperpoweredEvilSide in check for years.