Demonstration of the Mental Issue in the Movie as Good as It Gets - Paper Example

The movie gives a narration of Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson), an exceptionally successful writer, who is adored and loved by women in the film for the manner he wrote on the subject of the world of women. Melvin is disinclined to every living creature. As Good as It Gets (1997)" brings to life an intolerable being who never gives a second thought before annoying someone, and who as well contain a medical condition of Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD). Though, through Nicholsons creative talent, Melvin becomes adorable, and as absurd as it may appear, after all manner of appalling things committed by him, he ends up revolving into a funnier and good character admired by many especially viewers. James Brooks felt it was prudent to offer a more humorous look of the disorder instead of going into the big suffering that these individuals undergo in their lives. The mechanism is clearer as the film builds up, and the viewer takes pleasure in a mixture of comic, ridiculous, tragic and distracted moments, all that occur simultaneously.

Signs and Symptoms resulting in impairment (DSM-5 criteria met):

Melvin Udall is a prominent male writer who dependably remains at home and to be distant from everyone else. He demonstrates his mental issue in the movie As Good as It Gets (1997)" in a wide range of ways. He does not keep an association with other individuals and is bad-tempered. Melvin eats each day at a similar restaurant where he demands to sit at a similar table, and gets Helen Hunt as the only waitress who serves him whenever he shows up in the hotel. His life is the same all through and does not permit any incidental occurrences. The most evident dysfunctional behavior for him is his addiction for check and cleanliness.

To remove the uneasiness stimulated by the fixation thought of defilement and check, Melvin Udall needs to carry on compulsive behaviors routinely. For contamination aspects, he usually wears gloves when outside, washes his hands with new soaps and hot water spontaneously. He as well wipes off entryway handles before opening the doors, consistently wears his gloves when driving and brings his paper-wrapped plastic wear for use while taking meals in the restaurant. Additionally, Melvin precisely takes utmost caution when walking in the city streets so as to abstain from stepping on cracks. For the concern of check, Melvin visits home regularly and locks the door in a similar manner (five times) for each lock. Also, he has a habit of turning on the lights in a similar way.

Melvin Udall majorly experiences OCD in his life. Regardless of him being at home or outside, he has the undesirable fixation of contamination repeatedly, and thus takes part in a wide range of sorts of compulsion conduct. It is difficult to attest his time of onset. Though, we know his occupation as a writer who has spent a many years working alone at home. Most likely the side effects of OCD appeared since he started his profession as a writer or possibly before amid his young adulthood or childhood. He had seen an instructor two years back. In this manner he knows about his mental illness for over two years without a doubt.

Individuals with OCD appear to posses similar personality characteristics that are: persisting doubts, exaggerated intellect of responsibility, excess of zeal, hyper-functioning, search for unachievable perfection; and with all things being unequal.

Diagnosis

In regard to DSM-IV-TR classification, an individual ought to indicate either compulsions or obsessions that he or she acknowledges are excessive or to some extent unreasonable. For our case, Melvin was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder that is a kind of nervousness disorder. His recurring behaviors that we term as compulsions are the outcome from his compulsive thoughts. Melvins symptoms fit the condition of DSV-IV. At some point, he contains obsessive thoughts and acknowledges that it is created from his mind. For instance, he has to visit the restaurant and must use the same table with same waitress whom he is used to. In addition, his recurring behaviors of checking together with hand-washing are the distinctive model of compulsions. Melvin uses the rules very strictly in his usual life. As much as he obtains one of the signs noted in DSM-IV either of compulsions or obsessions, he is diagnosed to have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).s

Current Treatment Recommendations for EACH Presenting Problem

In the case of Melvin Udall, two kinds of treatment can be applied. The first one is exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) whereas the other one is SSRI drug treatment. From past research, 90% of patients who use ERP therapy have shown significant progress by the end of the treatment. Also, roughly 60% of people diagnosed with OCD gain from taking SSRIs. Therefore, the two methods can be administered for treatment to Melvin Udall simultaneously. ERP is the most helpful treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The main aim for ERP is to render OCD patients to a position that can purposely set off compulsive judgments. It is a sort of behavior treatment.