Psychological Disorders In The Film 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'
1. What psychiatric disorder does the character (s) in the movie you are watching exhibit? Please explain citing specific behavior relevant DSM IV-TR criteria.
The character in the movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” one of the main characters suffers from autism, which is characterized by a withdrawal of the child into self and into a fantasy world of his own (Townsend, 381). According to the DSM-IV-TR the diagnostic criteria for Autistic Disorder that the character in the movie demonstrated were lack of societal or emotional reciprocity, failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level, marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language …show more content…
This movie predicts this scenario perfectly. And in these rural towns there are people who still prefer not to be around people with mental disorders for whatever their reason may be; as they are unaccepting of it. I believe that being a psychiatric nurse should encompass being open to everyone else’s opinions and realities. As we would like for everyone to be treated as a person at all times, there are situations where this doesn’t happen.
6. How would you use the film to help clients, families, populations, or health care staff better understand mental illness or its treatment?
This film could be used to help people who are impacted or curious about Autism because it provides a clear picture and understanding of what caring for an autistic child entails. It could also help them to understand that even though they have this mental disorder that they are still people and have emotions as we do. Hopefully this can help them to learn to treat them as they do anyone else.
7. If you were this “character’s” case manager, what strategies would you apply in helping them manage their
The character in the movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” one of the main characters suffers from autism, which is characterized by a withdrawal of the child into self and into a fantasy world of his own (Townsend, 381). According to the DSM-IV-TR the diagnostic criteria for Autistic Disorder that the character in the movie demonstrated were lack of societal or emotional reciprocity, failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level, marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language …show more content…
This movie predicts this scenario perfectly. And in these rural towns there are people who still prefer not to be around people with mental disorders for whatever their reason may be; as they are unaccepting of it. I believe that being a psychiatric nurse should encompass being open to everyone else’s opinions and realities. As we would like for everyone to be treated as a person at all times, there are situations where this doesn’t happen.
6. How would you use the film to help clients, families, populations, or health care staff better understand mental illness or its treatment?
This film could be used to help people who are impacted or curious about Autism because it provides a clear picture and understanding of what caring for an autistic child entails. It could also help them to understand that even though they have this mental disorder that they are still people and have emotions as we do. Hopefully this can help them to learn to treat them as they do anyone else.
7. If you were this “character’s” case manager, what strategies would you apply in helping them manage their