Clinical Diagnosis Film Assignment - Literature review Example

The Weatherman Name Institution The Weatherman This essay is about David Spritz, a weatherman at a local television station who is experiencing many disasters in his life, such as an agonizing divorce, a sick father, and troublesome children poising him between calamity and stability. The essay will briefly describe the main character; indicate how the disorder is portrayed within the movie and evaluate its accuracy; and discuss about stigma. Description of the Main Character David Spritz is a local weatherman in Chicago’s WCH, Channel 6. Many people see him as a person who predicts snow, sleet, rain, and sun but his life is more than that. He is faced with resentful fans that have a love-hate relation with him. However, what Spritz wants most is respect from his father Robert Spritzel, to rekindle the love he once shared with his separated wife, his daughter, and to prevent his son from getting into trouble more often. He decides to master archery as a way of distracting him from his distressful life. Despite the fact that his life has much inner mayhem, David has an onscreen charisma and charm. Even as his life is in turmoil, he tries hard to unite his family and to appease his father who believes that he is unsuccessful despite his efforts. Additionally, David realizes his mistakes and failures and attempts to bring his life together. Diagnosis/Symptoms The main character in the film portrays various symptoms that indicate that he suffers from major depressive disorder. David portrays recurrent episodes of the disorder according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. The major symptoms portrayed by the character include being in a depressed mood and showing a lack of interest or pleasure in day to day activities. This persists for more than two weeks (Psychiatryonline, n.d.). David is depressed, and his family situation leads him to always be agitated and unable to control his actions. This represents another diagnostic symptom of major depressive disorder that of impaired function in social, occupational and educational levels (Psychiatryonline, n.d.). David portrays this when he cannot maintain a functional life. Thus, David is always worried and depressed, while he also shows misdirected anger such as when he slaps his estranged wife’s boyfriend when he finds him dealing with his son’s situation with the counselor. Another symptom of major depressive disorder is a feeling of worthlessness and frustration for the constant failures that the patient is faced with on a daily basis. David is constantly taunted by the fact that his father is disappointed in him because he cannot keep his family together, and that he does not pursue big enough goals but rather chooses the easy way out of life. The major indicator that David suffers from recurrent major depressive disorder is the fact that he manifests multiple symptoms, and displays more than one or two episodes in a period of up to three months (Psychiatryonline, n.d.). Aetiology/Formulation Mascarenas (2012) outlines that the exact biological mechanisms that cause major depressive disorder are not known. The writer highlights several theories that have been established to explain the causes of the disorder. The first is the monoamine hypothesis that was based on the observation that monoamine depletion occurred as a result of the use of the drug reserpine. The second theory discussed by Mascarenas (2012) suggests that chronic stress leads to major depressive disorder. A third theory, as highlighted by Mascarenas (2012) suggests that major depressive disorder is a hereditary disorder. Gatchel, Polatin,Mayer and Garcy (1994) have similar views in regard to the causes of major depressive disorder. The authors suggest that some of the causes of the disorder are environmental stressors. At the same time, the authors identify certain psychological factors that contribute to the disorder including congruent the self-efficacy theory and learned helplessness, which stems from lack of self-efficacy. This theory is also highlighted by Maier and Watkins (2005). Major depressive disorder manifests in multiple depressive episodes without any history of manic, hypomanic and mixed episodes. It also manifests in severity of illness or the absence of clinical symptoms in the current mood episode that manifests in a patient. The severity determines the mode of treatment to be used on a patient according to Barlow and Durand (2012). Depression rarely develops in children and it starts in early teens and it escalates if left untreated and unmanaged (Barlow and Durand, 2012). One of the predisposing factors thus is age, and the average age of the onset of the disorder is of age 30 years. Consequently, depression has been directly linked to suicide cases among teens as well as adults. At the same time, Barlow and Durand (2012) attribute environmental factors as being responsible for changes in cognitive abilities. There are, however, certain fundamental protective factors in regard to major depressive disorder as shown in the grid framework. Stigma This film shows that the public hardly understands major depressive disorder and that is why no one understands David, not even his family. His father, for example, criticizes him constantly but does not help him seek appropriate diagnosis and treatment for his condition. His family too, including his wife and children do not understand him and, therefore, offer no support to help him cope. The film thus shows how much misinformed the public is in terms of this disorder such as they cannot identify the major symptoms and recognize the episodes manifested by David. It does not occur to them that he could be severely depressed and thus they do not support him to cope and overcome the illness. Instead, they taunt him for his failure and incapability occasioned by the disorder. This is a detrimental position because patients suffering from depression are often suicidal and such poor treatment by members of the public could drive them to suicide. Grid framework on aspects contributing to major depressive disorder Biological Psychological Social Predisposing (places the person at increased risk to develop a disorder) Mascarenas (2012) highlights several theories that have been established to explain the causes of the disorder. The first is the monoamine hypothesis that was based on the observation that monoamine depletion occurred because of the use of the drug reserpine. This consequently led to symptom resolution and it was concluded that monoamine was responsible for the disorder. The second theory discussed by Mascarenas (2012) suggests that chronic stress leads to major depressive disorder. Stress is said to cause the secretion of glucocorticoids which are hormones that are responsible for the depletion of neurotrophic factors that are produced by the brain. This, consequently, leads to the depletion of neurogenesis in the hippocampus thus causing depression. Another predisposing biological factor is age and this applies to David because he is at an age where many adults are highly susceptible to major depressive disorder. Gatchel, Polatin, Mayer and Garcy (1994) identify certain psychological factors that contribute to the disorder including congruent psychological profiles among patients. These profiles are characteristic of mood disorders and persistent pain conditions. The authors also highlight that some of the psychological theories that explain the origin of major depressive disorder are self-efficacy theory and learned helplessness theory. The self-efficacy theory suggests that when one is incapable of obtaining certain goals in life, they are likely to suffer stress which can escalate to depression. It also leads to chronic pain in the later stages of life of an individual. Concerning the film, David portrays aspects of psychological disturbance. He lacks psychological stability and that is why he flares up such as when he slaps his wife’s boyfriend as well as when he confronts his son’s counselor. Barlow and Durand (2012) observe that life events have a major role to play in determining a person’s predisposition to major depressive disorder. These include childhood challenges as well as social, occupational and family challenges as one grows up. David has glaring social predisposing factors which include family challenges because his marriage has failed and his children are disturbed by this fact. Besides, David is under pressure from his father to be more than just a weatherman but to measure up to him. Precipitating (directly related to the development of the disorder) The presence of the predisposing biological factors means that individuals are likely to develop major depressive disorder in the course of their lifetime. Barlow and Durand (2012) also highlight unipolar mood disorder as a precipitating factor to major depressive disorder. In the unipolar mood disorder, patients’ moods remain in one “pole of the depression elevation continuum”. In addition, the authors concur that disorders such as major depressive disorder also stem from an individual’s genetic composition. This also includes behavioral patterns related to these disorders. Learned helplessness stems from lack of self-efficacy, in which an individual portrays behavioral changes that result from response to environmental stressors. Maier and Watkins (2005) also highlight this theory. The authors suggest that many adults who suffer major depressive disorder have a reduced capacity of managing life stressors, especially chronic stressors that are recurrent in their lives. This lack of capability results from low personal mastery in various aspects of their lives including health problems. In the film, David lacks the ability to pull himself together and be the man that his family needs. However, it is notable that this helplessness is because of the fact that he does not seek help to deal with the depression. Barlow and Durand (2012) highlight the reciprocal gene-environment model as one of the theories that try to explain the development of major depressive disorder. This involves an individual seeking out difficulties such as relationships that may cause depression. The authors make a strong point that although one’s genetic composition may be responsible for many psychological conditions, the interaction between the genes and the environment can alter these genetic predispositions. This means that some aspects of an individual’s personality are learned from the environment. In connecting this to major depressive disorder, patients can pick up factors that cause the disorder. Perpetuating (serves to maintain the disorder) The Institute of Medicine (2009) highlight that statistics on major depressive disorder suggests that up to 30% of the people suffering from depression have the severe form of the illness. It is also estimated that up to 30 million of adults in Europe are likely to suffer from major depressive disorder during their lifetime. Besides the above theories, there are other factors that put adults at an increased risk of major depressive disorder. These factors include being female, middle aged, of single marital status, white, low economic status, unemployed and with physical disability. Psychological predisposing factors of major depressive disorder, if unmanaged, become perpetuating factors of the disorder. Lack of self-esteem puts an individual in a state of vulnerability to the disease as long as nothing is done to improve his or her self-esteem. The same case applies to self-efficacy and is evident in David’s case. The continuous presence of life stressors in an individual’s life is a perpetuating factor in relation to major depressive disorder. When individuals fail to manage life stressors such as marital and family conflict puts them in a constant state of depression, as is the case with David. Protective (prevents or lessens the effects of the disorder or may help to overcome the disorder) Considering the biological factors that predispose one to major depressive disorder, the opposite of it means that one has some protection against being vulnerable to the disease. These include being of a different race other than the white race, being male and lacking in any physical disability. In this film, David lacks in physical disability. He is also male but this is not enough to protect him from depression because protective factors are more effective when they apply in combination. Being is a stable psychological state is a major protective factor for massive disorder. Individuals who develop with stability from childhood are less likely to develop depression because they have developed stamina over life stressors. David lacks stability because even his father whom he is supposed to look up to only criticizes him thus diminishing his self-esteem. An individual who has stable social relationships is cushioned from major depressive disorder. Stable relationships in family, peers and at school for children are a protective factor. David does not have any stable relationships, with either family or peers. Thus, he lacks social protective factors. References Barlow, D. & Durand, V. (2011). Abnormal psychology: an integrative approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Berlant J., and van Kammen D.P (2002). Open-label topiramate as primary or adjunctive therapy in chronic civilian posttraumatic stress disorder: A preliminary report. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 63:15–20 Gatchel R.J., Polatin P.B., Mayer T.G., and Garcy P.D. (1994). Psychopathology and the rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain disability. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 75:666–670. Institute of Medicine (2009). Conflict of interest in medical research, education, and practice. Washington, DC, National Academies Press. Maier SF, Watkins LR (2005). Stressor controllability and learned helplessness: The roles of the dorsal raphe nucleus, serotonin, and corticotropin releasing factor. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 29:829–841 Mascarenas, C.A. (2012). Major depressive disorder. Neurology and Psychiatry, 7: 7-26. Retrieved from http://www.accp.com/docs/bookstore/psap/p7b10sample01.pdf PsychiatryOnline (n.d.). Major depressive disorder. DSM-IV-TR® Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Retrieved from http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/content.aspx?bookid=22§ionid=1890516 Read More

David is constantly taunted by the fact that his father is disappointed in him because he cannot keep his family together, and that he does not pursue big enough goals but rather chooses the easy way out of life. The major indicator that David suffers from recurrent major depressive disorder is the fact that he manifests multiple symptoms, and displays more than one or two episodes in a period of up to three months (Psychiatryonline, n.d.). Aetiology/Formulation Mascarenas (2012) outlines that the exact biological mechanisms that cause major depressive disorder are not known.

The writer highlights several theories that have been established to explain the causes of the disorder. The first is the monoamine hypothesis that was based on the observation that monoamine depletion occurred as a result of the use of the drug reserpine. The second theory discussed by Mascarenas (2012) suggests that chronic stress leads to major depressive disorder. A third theory, as highlighted by Mascarenas (2012) suggests that major depressive disorder is a hereditary disorder. Gatchel, Polatin,Mayer and Garcy (1994) have similar views in regard to the causes of major depressive disorder.

The authors suggest that some of the causes of the disorder are environmental stressors. At the same time, the authors identify certain psychological factors that contribute to the disorder including congruent the self-efficacy theory and learned helplessness, which stems from lack of self-efficacy. This theory is also highlighted by Maier and Watkins (2005). Major depressive disorder manifests in multiple depressive episodes without any history of manic, hypomanic and mixed episodes. It also manifests in severity of illness or the absence of clinical symptoms in the current mood episode that manifests in a patient.

The severity determines the mode of treatment to be used on a patient according to Barlow and Durand (2012). Depression rarely develops in children and it starts in early teens and it escalates if left untreated and unmanaged (Barlow and Durand, 2012). One of the predisposing factors thus is age, and the average age of the onset of the disorder is of age 30 years. Consequently, depression has been directly linked to suicide cases among teens as well as adults. At the same time, Barlow and Durand (2012) attribute environmental factors as being responsible for changes in cognitive abilities.

There are, however, certain fundamental protective factors in regard to major depressive disorder as shown in the grid framework. Stigma This film shows that the public hardly understands major depressive disorder and that is why no one understands David, not even his family. His father, for example, criticizes him constantly but does not help him seek appropriate diagnosis and treatment for his condition. His family too, including his wife and children do not understand him and, therefore, offer no support to help him cope.

The film thus shows how much misinformed the public is in terms of this disorder such as they cannot identify the major symptoms and recognize the episodes manifested by David. It does not occur to them that he could be severely depressed and thus they do not support him to cope and overcome the illness. Instead, they taunt him for his failure and incapability occasioned by the disorder. This is a detrimental position because patients suffering from depression are often suicidal and such poor treatment by members of the public could drive them to suicide.

Grid framework on aspects contributing to major depressive disorder Biological Psychological Social Predisposing (places the person at increased risk to develop a disorder) Mascarenas (2012) highlights several theories that have been established to explain the causes of the disorder. The first is the monoamine hypothesis that was based on the observation that monoamine depletion occurred because of the use of the drug reserpine. This consequently led to symptom resolution and it was concluded that monoamine was responsible for the disorder.

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