A Beautiful Mind: Mental Health Assessment

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Recommended: Suicide impact in society

A Beautiful Mind: Mental Health Assessment
Eilis Weber
September 17, 2014

Scene Summary
John Nash was asked to present at the Mathematics Conference at Harvard University when his hallucinations start to chase him and he runs out. Confronted by the doctor outside he is sedated and taken to a mental institution. There he is disoriented and in denial. Later, his doctor says to his wife “Imagine if you suddenly learned that the people, the places, the moments most important to you were not gone, not dead, but worse, had never been. What kind of hell would that be?”
Medical Diagnosis
Paranoid Schizophrenia; Paranoid type schizophrenia is a mental illness in which someone experiences auditory and/or visual hallucinations …show more content…

His facial expressions changed dramatically from a calm, collected professor to an expression of panic and aggression.
Thought Process and Content
He could not differentiate between his delusions and reality. He believes the Russians are sending codes through the newspapers to attack the United States (psychosis).
John Nash displayed coherent but illogical thought process, insisting Dr. Rosen was part of the Russian army. Appears to be thought blocking in order to keep his work with the government confidential.
John Nash is delusional and experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations. Believes the Russians are after him because he knows too much from his work with the government. Sees imaginary people (Charles, Marci, Parcher).
Does not appear to be suicidal however is violent towards other people such as Dr. Rosen and his wife.
Sensorium and Orientation
John Nash was not oriented to the environment he was in after being admitted to the hospital. He believed he was captured by the Russians when awoken from sedation and speaking with Dr. …show more content…

He believes he has been captured by the Russians when in Dr. Rosen’s office.
He is in denial as he does not recognize that he is ill until his wife brings him the packages he tried to send to the government and that Marci never gets old.
He understands abstract concepts…
Self-Concept
Does not like people as stated at the beginning of the movie when describing his colleagues in school.
He is very competitive, when he doesn’t win the prestigious award and his teacher doesn’t believe in him.
He is socially awkward and arrogant as seen at the bar he says “I don't exactly know what I am required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me. But could we assume that I said all that. I mean essentially we are talking about fluid exchange right? So could we go just straight to the sex.”
“Despite my privileged upbringing, I'm actually quite well-balanced. I have a chip on both shoulders.”

Roles and Relationships
Married and soon to be father (possible stressor). John Nash does not have any friends outside his hallucinations. Claims to be an “odd

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