Psychosis Portrayed in the Media

Impact of Medias Portrayal of insane giddyness on Viewers insane asylum insane throw out of kilters atomic number 18 the more unsafe form of genial malady, particularly schizophrenic psychosis. umpteen(prenominal) multidimensional factors vex contri preciselyed to the favorable discoloration of insane mental infirmity, rateing it a fond task. jibe to Landsberg and Rock (2010), stigma and secernment shock absorbers policy and program response to the issue, make limitations on our financing. As a expiration, thither is a deficiency of resources provided by big and micro level musical arrangements for persons battling with the coruscation-headedness condescension a recent shift in societys perception.Programs a great deal(prenominal) as National Alliance for the amiablely Ill and the Reco rattling Movement acquire been trying to increase public suasion of the unsoundness, press for goernment resources, and emphasize accessary net lams such(preno minal) as family, friends, and mental health providers ( cycle per second, 2010). Unfortunately, the complexness of this indisposition and leave out of thorough understanding continues to reinforce and sustain the stigma. Additionally, respective(prenominal)s discharge into the residential bea from institutions comport non been well support by micro-level receiptss. As a result, umpteen commit crimes and end up in jail.Landsberg and Rock (2010) anchor that numerous soberly mentally ill patients ar in nursing homes, homeless shelters, and jails because of unmet claims. Community mental health centers take for more patients than lag tidy sum buoy handle ( round, 2010). In transgress of divers(a) attempts, the mental health brass is comprised of programs that dont fail, passing many honorablely ill individuals without comely c atomic number 18 (Landsberg and Rock, 2010, pg. 258). These wide ranges of factors contribute to exhibit serious mental affection as a well-disposed problem that is stigmatized as well. In price of sociable stigma, there argon several misconceptions.Hertz (2010) free-base that the public misperceives lot with psycho person sickness as homicidal. The truth of research indicates that these individuals are more frequently victims of crime perpetrated by other(a)s, or, tragically, by their own hands (Hertz, 2010). Unfortunately, the intimidating vogues in which symptoms may evidence prevent throng from establishing any positivistic associations with such disease. The media portrays psychotic person person person disorders through diverse steads, ultimately sending mixed depicted objects to earshots rough the nature and prospects of the illness.Landsberg and Rock (2010) tell that photographic films much picture the mentally ill as violent, negatively touching our societys ordainingness to enact needed changes and fund programs. The pictorial matters A charming beware, K-PAX, and The Soloist all(prenominal) portray a face support with a psychotic disorder, particularly schizophrenic disorder, who also demonstrates susceptibility and resilience in their struggles. The intent of this paper is to talk of featureistics of psychotic illness, littlely analyze these motion pictures and their pass to audiences, and assess accuracy within their passages. shortened History of Mental Illness as a Social Problem at that place are conflicting ideologies in footing of how to approach serious mental illness in the United States. duration some adopt a survival of the fittest perspective and confide affected individuals shouldnt collect assistance, others act as committed advocates for programs to service them. When looking at the recent register of mental health, several attempts at revolutionizing administrations were made, and endlessly agnizem to only partially work. As a result, more systems that partially work were created.The 1950s through the 1970s show inp atient infirmaryization for psychotic patients without much chance for their self-determination and self-empowerment. Solutions were genuinely problem-focused, and patients original their make doment of insulin shock therapy. Socially, there come alonged to be more emphasis on regarding any genius with a psychotic illness as half-baked, and therefore someone to puzzle outside(a) from. The deinstitutionalization movement in the 1970s and the base of managed care was an attempt to steer out from disgor stand bying the great unwashed away. As a result, many hospitals were shut down.The problem with this system was the lack of funds allocated towards community-based services. this instant that the patients length of stay at hospitals authoritatively decreased, patients lay down been laid-off into the streets, and left to their own devices. time many have been receiving adequate services, many are not receiving tight-laced care and result in committing crimes, engaging i n other illegal activity, becoming homeless, or only when functioning on a very low level. Hertz (2010) stated that the waiting lists for residual programs for the chronically mentally ill are months, if not long judgment of conviction long.This implies the astonishing amount of people not receiving proper aftercare. A true solution is tho to be get bemuseed. Background on Psychotic Disorders with an Emphasis on schizophrenic psychosis Schizophrenia is currently affecting nearly 2. 5 million people living in the United States, and 29 million people worldwide (Hertz, 2010). The typical origination of this illness is during adolescence or early adulthood. Hertz (2010) account that the on direct can be gradual, scratch line with odd beliefs and mannerisms, while other onsets are acute with a sudden psychotic break.These research move upings imply the complexity in how symptoms manifest, and pose a challenge for practitioners to mite and potentially diagnosing. at that pla ce exists a social misconception regarding psychotic disorders. Psychotic symptoms may come on in disorders other than Schizophrenia, and the presence of psychotic symptoms doesnt necessarily indicate diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Hertz (2010) stated that withdrawal from populace marks psychosis, containing two major symptoms delusions and hallucinations.Schizophrenia is particularly characterized as a thought disorder which builds on these symptoms to include impaired cognitive functioning such as loose associations of ideas/thoughts and disturbance of affect (Hertz, 2010, p. 285). There are several types of schizophrenia, and is defined by ordained and negative symptoms which indicate the creation or deficiency of functioning. Hepworth, Rooney, and Larsen (2010) found that optimistic symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and catatonic behavior. check to Hepworth, Rooney, and Larsen (2010), negative symptoms include flattened affect, curtail speech, and limited initiation of goal-directed behavior. The causes of psychotic disorders are ultimately unknown, and many unalike theories emphasize several(predicate) contributing factors. According to Hertz (2010), genetics, heredity, and neuro chemistry determine quiting degrees of predisposition to developing psychosis. This research finding implies that environmental and social stressors play a role as well. A fair MindJohn Nash is the main character in A Beautiful Mind who is predominantly battling with the paranoid subtype of schizophrenia. The movie follows the brio of mathematician John Nash who is responsible for creating several talented theories such as game guess still used in economic science today. He att finish Ivy confederation Princeton University in the 1940s after which he became a calculus prof at MIT five years later. Falling in love with one of his students, Mr. John Nash go abouted a family and continued working on theories and concepts as a mathematica l product of his mastermind.Gradually end-to-end the course of Mr. Nashs academic and able achievements, the movie directed attention to the boast and effect of his psychotic illness. Several aspects of Mr. Nashs psychotic symptoms were represent through divers(prenominal) characters and plot points. His college roommate Charles, Charless niece Marcee, and subdivision of Defense agent William Parcher were trey characters that were last revealed as part of his visual and auditive hallucinations. Agent Parcher also marked Mr.Nashs delusional thinking when he drawd him to erupt a special code of their rival at the Pentagon. Throughout the movie, viewing audience sporadically see Mr. Nash involved with Parcher in various assignments that appeared prestigious and extremely intellectual. In the beginning of the movie, Charless character was designed for audiences to trust he was tangible, apt(p) the lovesome and practical(prenominal) association that transpired between him and Mr. Nash. However, as the years went by and Marcee stayed the same age, Mr. Nash visualised she was a figment of his imagination.Mr. Nashs delusions have put his family in danger on many occasions. He nearly allowed his son to submerge while bathing him, and accidentally knocked his wife Alicia over when agent Parcher told him to kill her. after Alicia had enough of his behavior, she called the psychiatric hospital where he was admitted to ask in insulin shock therapy, a greenness treatment for psychosis in the 1950s. After agreeing to purport anti-psychotic medications, Mr. Nash was released from the hospital. Unfortunately, he ended up carry the medication without aking them, resulting in relapse of his psychotic symptoms. lesser and Pope (2010) stated that mind-altering medications are effective in ceasing or reducing psychotic symptoms but practically have unpleasant side effects. Mr. Nashs detrimental side effects include reduction in intellectual abilities, a nd impairments to his race with his wife. Ultimately, Mr. Nash has learned to manage his symptoms and live with his illness. The message this movie hopefully sends out to viewers is that serious mental illness can affect bright and well meliorate people, and that recuperation is possible.Moreover, the movie encourages viewers to legitimateize that even individuals with serious mental illness can excel in accepted areas of vitality, if not r for each oneing levels of genius. While the media, as previously stated, typically portrays individuals with mental illness as violent antagonists, Mr. Nash is portray as a protagonist despite his calorie-free expiration violence during psychotic episodes. Viewers plausibly feel compassion for him and take to see him win his battles. The movie sinlessly depicted environmental stressors that may cause temporary ablaze breakdowns.Mr. Nashs character was portray as getting frustrated and irate when he thought he couldnt fulfill the duties agent Parcher has assigned him. He was worried that the Russians are after him, and snarl hale to crack the code that neer existed. Moreover, when he was admitted to the hospital, he perceived doctors to be Russian spies, a reasonable portrayal of paranoid schizophrenia. Luckily, Mr. Nash trained himself to transcend his symptoms by acknowledging, followed by ignoring, their existence.While it has been stated that the real John Nash only experienced auditory hallucinations, A Beautiful Mind waited to combine visual hallucinations for entertainment purposes, inaccurately volume-painting and exaggerating Mr. Nashs illness. However, accuracy was shown through the many psychotic breakdowns Mr. Nash experienced, demonstrating emotional and forcible breakdowns. Although he put his wife and child in danger on numerous occasions, Alicia served as his main support system. Hertz (2010) stated that supportive networks are a critical variable in determining the select of life of people with Schizophrenia.In fact, it is plausible that in this movie, Mr. Nash demonstrated more resilience and strength than is realistically common in the United States for people with psychotic illness. non everyone has access to the kind of support he did given his prestigious status as a mathematician. Additionally, he had the support of his winning wife who never abandoned him and seemed to be the main source of his resilience. K-PAX Prot is the main character in K-PAX who demonstrates delusional thinking as part of his psychosis. As previously discussed, he didnt necessarily have Schizophrenia.Prot was admitted to the hospital after claiming to be an alien from a planet called K-PAX. As psychiatrist goal Powell begins to treat Prot, he learns of his excelling intellect in the subject of astronomy. Stunned by this wisdom, set up introduced Prot to some astro-physicists who were puzzled by his retrospect of traveling from a assorted planet by a means of light trave l. Prot and Mikes relationship grew stronger with each treatment session, and Prot revealed his knowledge of life on planet K-PAX. Prot also had a positive influence on other patients in the hospital who believed he was from a different planet.Prot began to display erratic emotional breakdowns that were declaratory of his psychosis. He had an episode during some of his sessions with bread, as well as in expect of Mikes family when he was invited over for dinner. Prot began to repeatedly mention that he is going back to planet K-PAX on July 27th. Mark started to make connections between what triggers lead to Prots hysteria. Additionally, he used regressive hypnosis to discover the significance of the date July 27th, suspecting he suffered from meaning(a) loss. He learned that Prot has attempted self-destruction after his family was killed on July 27th.When that date lastly came, Prot was found catatonic, and the ending of the movie was uncovered to interpretation. This movie sen ds several messages to viewers. One of them includes the strong impact harm may have on individuals. Prot attempted suicide without conquest after his family was killed, chump the onset of his delusions. Hertz (2010) found that suicide attempts are a common and often overlooked item within psychotic symptoms, and often bechance during the first psychotic episode when the individual feels bewildered and out of control.His feelings of bewilderment were belike caused by seeing his family get killed, a realistic reaction to such a tragic occurrence. K-PAX hopefully teaches audiences to realize that many of the severely mentally ill individuals could have experienced significant loss in their lives that was out of their control, leading to their illness. There was postcode substantial provided in the beginning of the movie which aroused sympathy for Prots character. It is disputable that audiences could have perceived all his preachings nigh travelling from another planet as him joking around with authorities.He wore mordant sunglasses, and seriously spoke about life on another planet. However, as the movie showed several emotional breakdowns, it was evident that he has experienced significant psychological trauma of loss. Hertz (2010) stated that psychotic symptoms are often triggered by a significant loss, and environmental stressors can trigger neuro chemical substance events in the brain. The movie accurately visualized the concept of surrounding triggers. For instance, Prot was reminded of the tragedy when the sprinklers came on at Mikes house, do flashbacks of his trauma.Assessing accuracy of his intense reaction is difficult, for, each individual reacts to triggers to varying degrees. His particular reaction involved crying and an appearance of plenteous sadness. The Soloist Nathaniel Ayres is the main character in The Soloist who is pictured to struggle with Paranoid Schizophrenia as his psychotic disorder. The movie follows the life of Anth ony Ayres, a man who became homeless as a result of his illness. Journalist Steve Lopez was desperately seeking material for a story to meet a deadline. One day he heard someone playing the violoncello so beautifully that he felt compelled to follow the music.As a result, he met a homeless man named Nathaniel who claimed to have attended Julliard for his musical talents. Steve tested his word by calling the school, only to find out that Nathaniel has indeed attended Julliard, but has dropped out after his second year. Steve ended up writing his story on Nathaniel. As their friendship progressed, Steve became more raise in Nathaniels safety, and wanted him to receive treatment. Flashbacks to the onset of Nathaniels Schizophrenia were pictured to answer Steves questions as to why he is no agelong in Julliard and living in a shelter.In response to the published story, readers responded with sympathy, and one char even sent Nathaniel a Cello. Eventually, Steve convinced Nathaniel t o perform in strawman of an audience which triggered his auditory hallucinations. The end of the movie displayed Nathaniel continue to struggle with his illness, but no longer living in a shelter, marking progress. His friendship with Steve and his music seem to stand by manage his symptoms, according to psychiatrists Steve has consulted with. In access to serious mental illness, The Soloist portrays another social problem that is stigmatized homelessness.Hertz (2010) estimated that 60% of people with schizophrenia live in poverty, and 1 in 20 ends up homeless. The movie portrays Nathaniel as someone who has been exposed to treatments such as medications and shock therapy, and doesnt want anything to do with them. It seemed as though he felt he belonged in a shelter as opposed to an flat where his symptoms emerge. The message of this film is for audiences to realize that homeless people arent necessarily otiose, or cant get a job. Conversely, they may have suffered from symptoms which inevitably led to that lifestyle.Through flashbacks, Nathaniel was portrayed as a productive and endue member of society who attended a prestigious musical institution, and tried to start his young adult life living in an apartment. Unfortunately, he was overpowered by his auditory hallucinations, fashioning him paranoid and scared. Hopefully audiences will reorient their mentality and not cut down homeless individuals as those that havent worked hard enough to attain a job and a place to live. round of them have truly been overpowered by dogged mental illness.In terms of accuracy, The Soloist middling portrayed the possible impact of stressors in the environment that trigger psychotic episodes. For Nathaniel, the pressure of performing well in front of an audience triggered voices which led him to run away. Additionally, unless an individual is medicated, it is obsolete for psychotic symptoms to not emerge. In the movie, Nathaniel was not receiving treatment at the ti me he became friends with Steve, and it was shown through his inability to have coherent conversations with him. Furthermore, he was unable to hold on to an apartment, and even felt soothe by the city street noises.His physical appearance was also unkempt and very colorful, reasonably displaying what someone with this disorder could potentially look like. Comparisons and Contrasts between Films There are several similarities and differences in the way media portrayed these characters suffering from serious mental illness. While the etiology, symptoms, and course of their disorders slightly differed, they all assign a strong support system which provided them self-determination and potential for growth, similar to the goals of the recovery Movement. Hertz (2010) stated that the presence of someone who believes in their recovery increase recovery rates.Mr. John Nash had the privilege of a supportive wife. Realistically, it may be an exception that an affected individual is a covete d professor with a family by his side assisting his struggles. Prot true a relationship with his Psychiatrist. It is rare, if not unethical, for a patients psychiatrist to invite them into their home and introduce them to family members. More importantly, it seems rare for a psychiatrist to invest so much emotional effort into one particular case, especially one that is plaza aged and has been in the practice for so long.Nathaniel formed a strong friendship with journalist Steve Lopez. Most severely mentally ill homeless individuals are not discovered by someone who decides to believe in them about, as previously discussed, are underserved and not receiving proper treatment and care. While the storylines were touching and enlightening, they are very rare. These situations seem to be an exception quite a than the rule, making the character portrayals inaccurate in terms of exaggerating the levels of support. Another important similarity accurately portraying psychotic disorders i s the fact that there is no known cure.None of the characters were cured by the end of the movie, but rather found their own ways of coping with symptoms. The ultimate message was moderately accurate when showing psychotic mental illness every single case should be viewed individually despite the one set of guidelines for diagnosis provided in the DSM-IV. Research has been understandably about one thing psychotic disorders remain etiologically perplexing and challenging to treat (Hertz, 2010). As a result, it is fairly easy for media to play around with psychotic illness through characters, since there is ultimately no absolute truth to reference, and thereby deem inaccurate.Since symptoms are a product of the persons psyche, there seem to be no limits as to how original psychotic symptoms and reactions may become. Interestingly, all one-third characters in the films are men. Research found that more men than women are given the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (Hertz, 2010). Also, each movie emphasizes a different aspect of psychotic illness. A Beautiful Mind focuses on illness affecting a genius mind K-PAX signifies the impact of a traumatic loss, and The Soloist show how symptoms can lead to homelessness. ConclusionAccording to Lesser and Pope (2010), psychiatry critic doubting Thomas Szasz believed that the diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses was socially constructed, vary culture to culture, and is societys way of labeling individuals when their behavior breaks social rules. Nonetheless, the use of the DSM system prevails in the United States, and many individuals labelled under its guidelines are in need of services, reinforcing mental illness as a social problem. The deinstitutionalization movement in the 1970s as an attempt to serve the severely mentally ill has created a tender array of social problems given the lack of funding anticipated for these goals.Hertz (2010) presented that the sickest people in our society are disjointed in the crack s as they are discharged from institutions to poor and inadequate aftercare. The media provides several portrayals of serious mental illness. The three movies chosen for discussion (A Beautiful Mind, K-PAX, and The Soloist) ultimately portray the strength and resilience possible even for the more or less seriously mentally ill individuals, when provided with emotional and social resources. Implicitly, hope is not lost, and Hertz (2010) proposed a solution to make a shift in our priorities making a commitment to even the most upset members of our society.As demonstrated in the three films, two of which were based on real life people and events, individuals with even the most serious of mental illness can show strength and resilience. References Berzoff, J. , Melano Flanagan, L. , &038 Hertz, P. (2008). Chapter 13 The psychoses, with a special emphasis on schizophrenia (pp. 281-310). Inside out and outside in Psychodynamic clinical theory and psychopathology in contemporary multicul tural contexts (2nd ed. ). invigorated York Jason Aronson. Hepworth, D. , Rooney, R. &038 Larsen, J. 2010). Chapter 9 Assessment Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and environmental Factors. (pp. 199-226). Direct social work practice Theory and skills (8th ed. ). peaceful Grove, CA Brooks/Cole. Landsberg, G. , &038 Rock, M. (2010). Chapter 9 Mental Health. Social policy and social work The context of social work practice. New York, NY Pearson. Lesser, J. G. , &038 Pope, D. S. (2010). Chapter 17 Chronic illness and disability. (pp. 437-464). gracious Behavior in the Social Environment Theory and Practice. Boston Allyn and Bacon.