PCN 605 Topic 6 DQ 1

PCN 605 Topic 6 DQ 1

Max Points: 5.0

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (e.g., hoarding disorder) have gained popularity in the media in recent years. How do portrayals of these disorders in popular culture differ from the descriptions of them in the DSM? How might the media popularity affect a person’s likelihood to seek treatment?

ANS:

OCD
(Obsessive-compulsive disorder) refers to a situation in which a patient bears
abnormal behaviors and thoughts. Individuals suffering from OCD have been found
to carry impulses or thoughts which they are not in a position to control. OCD
is associated with symptoms which include anxiety feeling, compulsion, and
obsession. The symptoms may be as a result of difficulties in life which
involve death or illness. The disorder has attracted both negative and positive
publicity as far as the media is concerned.

.
Hannah, the leading character of the television show “Girls,” played
by Lena Dunham is a great example of positive publicity in the media. The media portray Hannah who faces some
challenges after being diagnosed with OCD. Positive influence is seen when it
was found to reduce loneliness among patients with the disorder (Suval,
2013). Some television shows which
include the “Monk,” improve the popularity of the disorder by
depicting it as quirks by making the detectives appear as childlike, funny and
silly. This is central to the reality where patients struggle and feel severely
hurt by the condition (Fawcett, 2015). AS a result of the mix-up, some
individuals in the society makes fun or are ignorant about the disorder while
others are serious about it. According to the kind of understanding one has
about the disease, possibilities are mutual in that they may be discouraged or
encouraged to look for medical assistance. Dziegielewski indicates that
standardization has been done on the disorder for being important in the
determination of patient psychopathology. To do away with the obsessions
feeling, individuals suffering from the disorder engage in mental and
behavioral activities (Dziegielewski, 2015). The explanation provided in the
DSM 5 about OCD is very different from how the media portray it.

Dziegielewski, S. F. (2015). DSM-5 in action. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Fawcett, K. (2015, April 16). How Mental Illness is Misrepresented in the Media. Retrieved from https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health wellness/articles/2015/04/16/how-mental-illness-is-misrepresented-in-the-media

Suval, L. (2013, April 27). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in the Media. Retrieved April 4, 2018, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-in-the-media/