Case Study #2: Movie 4 As Good As It Gets: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Introduction: Melvin Udall is a resourceful, bad-tempered, yet wealthy writer of romantic fiction suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. Compulsively, he alienates and is rude to the vast majority of the people whom he interacts with. In addition, he goes through his everyday breakfast ritual of eating at the same restaurant, sitting at the same table, and bringing his own disposable utensils. Consequently, Melvin develops a special fascination in Carol Connelly, a server at the restaurant who is the only person who can tolerate his behavior. Simon Bishop, Melvin’s neighbor, was attacked and nearly killed during a robbery. Simon’s agent and significant
Checking to make sure the stove is turned off, or double checking that the car is locked are all normal things. But a person with obsessive compulsive disorder may participate in these same actions, the only difference is it is much more intense. According to the National Institute of Mental Health those who have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have an impulse to check things multiple times, have rituals, thoughts and routines that they repeat over and over (National Institute of Health, 2013). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention further defines OCD, by having both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions have two aspects to them and include having thoughts, impulses or images that repeatedly happen and are generally unwanted.
What is OCD? OCD stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychological disorder that makes an individual have a great deal of anxiety due to unwanted thoughts. The individual will try to reduce it by engaging in repetitive behaviors or compulsions. OCD is a part of an individual’s everyday life, so it is natural to have some obsessive thoughts. However, when it interferes with your every day lifestyle, then the individual knows that it’s a disorder. An example of the most common OCD that someone may encounter are contamination, accidental harm to others, perfection when it comes to washing, cleaning, or arrangement of things. Obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms can change over time. It is most common
The protagonist in the film As Good As It Gets, Melvin Udall is a successful romantic novelist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. From the onset of the film, Melvin displays ritualistic behavior that aligns with the diagnostic criteria for OCD, specifically the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. This paper focuses on Melvin’s particular psychopathology, analyzing the character’s current symptoms and diagnoses, the etiology of the disorder, and the key elements of his treatment.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was once considered a rare disease, but today, it is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders present among society. OCD is described as “intrusive thoughts or images (obsessions), which increase anxiety, and by repetitive or ritualistic actions (compulsions), which decrease anxiety” (Stein, 2002). In the DSM-IV, Obsessive compulsive disorder can be diagnosed through observable behaviours or repetitive mental habits. Symptoms include; the constant washing of hands, and/or fears concerning danger to others or to self – resulting in frequent paranoia. OCD has been linked with lesions in various neurological circuits of the brain due to the consumption of dopamine agonists (for example, cocaine). In order for obsessive compulsive disorder to take clinical significance, dysfunction and distress must follow symptoms. The treatment of OCD was initially developed in the Freudian era, as psychoanalytical treatment was seen as the most effective treatment at the time for mind management. Conversely, recent empirical evidence proved otherwise. Pharmacological therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy, also known as systematic desensitization are nowadays the most prominent remedies used in treating obsessive compulsive disorder.
Well everyone suffers from one thing or another. A man named Melvin and a young lady named Tara are no different. Both of them suffer from an Obsessive compulsive-disorder. There disorder may have the same name but the way they respond to their disorder is quite different.
Considering the secrecy surrounding OCD symptoms, it is important for family members to pay attention to early signs of ritualistic behaviors becoming troublesome. When OCD is suspected, a comprehensive clinical evaluation – including detailed interviews with parents and, if possible teachers – is required in order to check the obsessions, sensory phenomenon and compulsions in the case. In younger children, OCD features might appear subtly during play activities or drawing. It is vital to differentiate between obsessive compulsive symptoms and normal childhood behavior, such as the normal practice or actions during playtime, food time or bedtime. In this context, the information about degree of distress, impairment and time consumed performing rituals should provide enough data to decide whether or not treatment is warranted. Moreover, it is also important to assess insight and the family’s perception of the symptoms, as well as how family members deal with the patient.
I have always been fascinated with behavioral disorders, especially OCD. I learned about OCD a few years ago when I was reading a medical journal. At first, it seemed like something very odd. The idea that otherwise normal people can do such strange things, and not be able to control themselves was fascinating. I wanted to know more about this topic, which is why I chose to write my paper on it. I thought that by knowing more about the subject, I will be able to better understand how these people’s lives can be literally taken over by their constant worries and anxiety. Also, I think a lot of people exhibit these behaviors and aren’t even aware that they may have a severe problem, and more importantly, that they can be getting help to
The time that they should be spending to be better members of our community is therefore spent in dealing with unrealistic means of decreasing false anxiety and impractical fears. Thus, it is very important for people with obsessive-compulsive disorders to seek treatment to help them ease symptoms and become more effective in their daily lives.
approximately one percent to three percent suffer from the disease worldwide, making it one of
I have always been fascinated with behavioral disorders, especially OCD. I learned about OCD a few years ago when I was reading a medical journal. At first, it seemed like something very odd. The idea that otherwise normal people can do such strange things, and not be able to control themselves was fascinating. I wanted to know more about this topic, which is why I chose to write my paper on it. I thought that by knowing more about the subject, I will be able to better understand how these people's lives can be literally taken over by their constant worries and anxiety. Also, I think a lot of people exhibit these behaviors and aren't even aware that they may have a severe problem, and more importantly, that they can be getting
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals one feels and can't control. . For many years, OCD was thought to be rare. The actual number of people with OCD was hidden, because people would hide their problem to avoid embarrassment. Some recent studies show that as many as 3 million Americans ages 18 to 54 may have OCD at any one time. This is about 2.3% of the people in this age group. It strikes men and women in approximately equal numbers and usually first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. One-third of adults with OCD report having experienced their first symptoms as children. The course of the disease is variable. Symptoms may come
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder that causes someone to have unwanted and troubling thoughts and repetitive behaviors (Lack, 2012). People may self-diagnose themselves to be obsessive compulsive. But people with obsessive compulsive disorder need to spend at least 1 hour daily on obsessive thoughts and rituals (Ellyson, 2014). This disorder is broken into two parts. The first part is obsessions, thoughts or images, and the second part is compulsions, the repetitive behaviors caused by the obsessions (Brakoulias, 2015). An example of obsessive compulsive disorder would be someone checking the locked door multiple times to reduce anxiety about forgetting to lock the door. On average 5% of the population has subclinical symptoms which are considered to be symptoms that are not disruptive enough to meet criteria to be diagnosed obsessive compulsive (Lack, 2012). Dropping what you’re doing to go back and check if your curling iron is unplugged is an example of a subclinical symptom. This paper will discuss what obsessive compulsive disorder is and provide a brief history. It will also include current treatments, suggestions on how to treat the disorder, and a summary.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a treatable disorder. It is a type of anxiety disorder which occurs throughout one’s life. A person with OCD can’t control their obsessions and compulsions. They get recurring thoughts which are stressful and not important but extremely hard to stop thinking about.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is influenced by neurological factors with symptoms such as repeating steps, continuously washing their hands, and having a fear of objects like germs. Although there is no cure, there are treatments such as medication and therapy that can help lessen the patient’s anxiety and discomfort.
Having occasional intrusive thoughts that you just are unable to get rid of is in itself not as strange, as some people might assume. It is fact actually quite common and not abnormal. Many people believe they have obsessive-compulsive disorder because of symptoms they may share with the disorder. But more and more often, this disorder is being overused and misdiagnosed unnecessarily. The turning point that changes from normal to abnormal is when these thoughts cause distress and disruption in that person’s life for a substantial period of time. Obsessive- compulsive disorder is a very common disorder that manifests in many different ways and it can be very burdensome to deal with, but luckily there are various options for treatment that