Case Analysis: Felix Unger, the Odd Couple By: Shirl Smith South College Abnormal Psychology Dr. Robinson Abstract Felix Unger is a fictional character in the TV series The Odd Couple that first aired from 1970 to 1975 on ABC. This series was just resurrected again in 2015 airing Wednesday nights on CBS and seems to be going strong. I have only watched it a few times but the evidence of obsessive compulsive disorder in Felix Unger played by Actor Thomas Lennon is unmistakable. Felix is clearly a control freak with tendencies to get upset easily when things don’t work out the way he feels they should or when things are unorganized and messy. Felix is currently living with his recently divorced old college buddy …show more content…
Unger’s obsessive compulsive disorder which has led to depression and attempted suicide. People with obsessive compulsive disorder suffer from unwanted and often intrusive thoughts that they can’t get out of their heads. They are often compelled to repeatedly do tasks in a ritualistic way in an attempt to eliminate their anxiety. They are most often aware that their obsessions or compulsions are irrational; however, they are still powerless to stop them and may spend countless hours doing these tasks over and over. This can and often does interfere with a person’s normal live and may make them less productive and successful at work, school, socially and even with family. If left untreated OCD will eventually interfere with all aspects of a person’s life …show more content…
Unger’s has a fighting chance at leading somewhat of a normal live going forward no matter the road his marriage ends up taking. With his continued therapy and regular taking of his anti-depressant drugs he will be able to lead a high functioning lifestyle. References: Pfizer (2015, January 1). Zoloft, Drug Facts. Retrieved August 20, 2016, from https://www.drugs.com/zolft. Psychguide (2016). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms, Causes and Effects. Retrieved August 20, 2016, from http://psychguides.com Mayo Clinic (1998-2016). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved August 26, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org). Anxiety and Depression Association of America (2010-2016). Obsessive Compulsive Foundation OCD Support. Retrieved on August 20, 2016, from https://www.adaa.org/search/node?keys=obsessive+compulsive International OCD Foundation (Oct. 2009-2015). About OCD. Retrieved August 26, 2016 from
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can come in many different forms. It can control how people live their everyday lives, and it is extremely difficult to get rid of it. It can take months to years of behavioral therapy to stop it. Even then it is not gone for
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder may not seem like much to some but to others it can make or break their life. It is a disease that can be diagnosed and treatment plans are available. It is important to understand the meaning of Obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as making it a point to find a professional therapist who is able to handle the diagnosis and treatment of Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder does not have to be a lifestyle; a person can choose to win the battle.
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“Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder, OCD” 18 Mar. 2014 National Institute of Mental Health. 18 Mar. 2014 http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
The protagonist in the film As Good As It Gets, Melvin Udall is a successful romantic novelist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. From the onset of the film, Melvin displays ritualistic behavior that aligns with the diagnostic criteria for OCD, specifically the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. This paper focuses on Melvin’s particular psychopathology, analyzing the character’s current symptoms and diagnoses, the etiology of the disorder, and the key elements of his treatment.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a disease that a lot of people suffer with in society especially young adults. While it is not a disease that is deadly, it does affect the victim in every day aspects of their life and can ultimately control their lives. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as, “… a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over”. The thoughts that individuals have when suffering through Obsessive Compulsive Disorder cannot be restrained and really can disturb the individual. Thoughts or actions that people may have can range from worrying about daily occurrences, such as washing their hands, to having thoughts of harming people that are close to them. People tend to have these reoccurring compulsions because they believe by doing them or thinking them, they will either prevent something bad from happening or because it eliminates stress that they have. This disease can last a lifetime and can be very detrimental and disabling to how one lives their lives. Individuals can start to see signs of OCD in either late adolescence or even early adulthood and everyone is susceptible. When it comes to classifying this incurable disease, there is much debate on whether or not it a type of anxiety (Abramowitz, Taylor, & McKay, 2009). It is important to be able to understand this mental disorder since so many people are diagnosed with it. While there are treatments for OCD, there are no cures yet. Treatments could range anywhere from taking prescribed medication to just going to therapy and counseling fo...
To begin, what constitutes abnormal behavior in Mr. Hughes’s case? As early as the 1930s, Hughes demonstrated signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive compulsive disorder is identified by DSM as having recurrent obsessions (persistent thoughts, ideas, impulses or images that seem to invade a person’s consciousness) or compulsions (repeated and rigid behaviors or mental acts that people feel like they must perform in order to prevent or reduce anxiety) (Cormer, 2008). Close friends reported that Hughes was obsessed with the size of peas, one of his favorite foods, and used a special fork to sort them by size.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is said to affect 2.3% of the population who are between the ages of eighteen and fifty-four. In the United States alone, 3.3 million people suffer from this mental illness. Statistics have shown that both men and women are equally affected by obsessive compulsive disorder. Children as young as six years old could show signs of OCD, however, diagnosis at this age could be difficult. In most cases, signs of OCD become definite during adolescence into early adulthood. Usually stress, illnesses and fatigue can lead this disorder and its symptoms to worsen. Throughout a person’s life, OCD could become mild, to the point where it is almost nonexistent, or it could completely take over their lives. It is incredibly important to seek help and continue treatment that will help maintain OCD at a healthy level. Failing to do so can certainly lead to the inability to function properly in one’s life (Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). This paper will discuss obsessive compulsive disorder in detail. It will compare the differences between obsessions versus compulsions, possible causes of OCD that have been discovered to date, the different types of OCD, and finally, various treatment options.
Imagine if you couldn’t get your job done because throughout your shift you had to continuously wash your hands. To many people this would be an easy problem but not if you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Several little thoughts or rituals irritate a person with OCD daily. There are many factors, symptoms, and treatments regarding OCD.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. Pierre Janet described obsessive-compulsive disorder by using the term psychasthenia. Sigmund Freud described obsessions and compulsions as psychological defenses used to deal with sexual and aggressive conflicts in the unconscious mind (Bruce Bower: 1987). OCD is also known as “The Doubting Disease,” because it’s as though the mind doesn’t register when the person does a certain action, which triggers the source of the obsession (USA Today:1995). Unlike most people with anxiety disorders, those diagnosed with OCD are more obsessed with what will happen to others instead of themselves (Edna Foa: 1995). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe. At some point the person will see the actions or thoughts as unreasonable and senseless. All people have habits and routines, but what makes obsessive-compulsive people different is the fact that their obsessions and compulsions interfere with their daily lives (American Family Physician: 2000). They spend large amounts of time doing odd rituals. The rituals can take hours a day and make the sufferers miserable and doesn’t allow them for much of a business or social life (Harvard Mental Health Letter). At one OCD clinic, many had lost years of work to their symptoms. Seventy-five percent said the disorder interfered with their family lives and thirteen percent had attempted suicide (Harvard Mental Health Letter: 1998). Phebe Tucker, a psychiatrist at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, explained, the most common obsession is washing hands for fear of contamination. Other acts are counting over and over, checking locks, hoarding items such as newspapers or cartons, repeatedly dressing and undressing, and walking in and out of doorways. The thought and behavior patterns are senseless and distressing. They can make it very difficult for a person to function properly at work, school, or even at home. Obsessions take the form of doubts, fears, images, or impulses. (Harvard Mental Health Center: 1998)