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[Mugen_1]

Hey guys, I figured this would be a good place to ask:

For my abnormal psychology class, we have to provide a clinical case description, diagnosis, and treatment recommendation for a fictional character. I thought it'd be fun to do this on Gordon from Session 9 since he has a large set of unresolved issues.

However, my report doesn't have to follow his character EXACTLY, as he needs to "end up" with bipolar I, II or schizophrenia. For the case description, I have his (est) age, ethnicity, martial status, family, current relationships, education history (presuming he didn't attend college) and work history (I know the movie says that "fiber is his life," so I assume that's all he's ever done).

Then I have to describe the symptoms he's experiencing (again, using the movie as a base).

For the diagnosis, we obviously have to tie it in with the symptoms he's experiencing. Finally, we have to name what treatment he would receive.

I'm just starting this so it can go in any direction. It's due March 30 and is only 1 page, single space with 1" margins.

If anyone wants to throw some ideas out there, I'll definitely consider them.

Thanks guys! 

[Cyber]

I did mine on Janis Joplin - her diagnosis was Borderline Personality Disorder.

Anywho...why does he HAVE to end up with the diagnosis as BPD I/II or Schizophrenia?

[Mugen_1]

Because those are the only disorders we have covered in class so far, and won't get credit if we diagnose our character with something we haven't covered with (multiple personality disorder, satanic ritual abuse syndrome (haha), etc

[Dr Sketch]

That's all I remember of Session 9...

[Jon]

Lol....examining David Caruso's hallucinations of being a legitimate actor might not be a bad, if not impossible, project.

[Cyber]

I would lean more towards Bipolar Disorder since his paranoia doesn't seem to be a problem from the get-go and his mood swings kinda fit, too.

[Mugen_1]

Oh and of course, now we're "allowed" to use multiple personality disorder as well. Just FYI.

Maybe now I should switch it to Mary Hobbes instead of Gordon...

[Mugen_1]

The final project, with help from Theora Jones from the Session 9 boards on the IMDB. I switched to Mary instead of Gordon.

For those interested, here's my "diagnosis" of Mary:

   Mary Hobbes is a woman of Caucasian ancestry, age 38, single, from Lowell, Massachusetts. She had one brother, Peter, who was a few years older than she. Her highest level of education was eighth grade and she has never been employed. This stems from an incident that happened when she was 14. On Christmas night, Mary received a china doll as a gift from her parents; her brother had received a large knife. After their parents went to sleep, Peter hid in his and Mary's room with the intent to scare her. Peter was successful in scaring Mary, ultimately causing her to fall forward onto her doll, with the sharp edges inflicting deep cuts around her chest and neck. Her immediate, unthinking reaction was to take Peter's knife and cut him up in return. When her parents heard the commotion, they too came running in, ultimately perishing at the hands of their daughter. Found mentally unfit to stand trial, Mary was committed into a mental institution to seek treatment for this seemingly unexplainable violent burst. While there, doctors realized she held within her three distinct alternate personalities: Billy, a young boy, Princess, a little girl, and Simon, monstrous and almost demon-like. In her unaltered state of mind, Mary maintains the injuries she received that night were caused from falling off a bicycle. Her alters, of whom she is unaware exist, corroborate the story of the china doll and the violence that ensued. She shifts frequently between Mary, Billy and Princess, but doctors have a difficult time getting Billy or Princess to discuss Simon. All have a tendency to become upset when discussing Christmas night in Lowell, except Simon, who almost takes pride in “participating.”
   I therefore diagnose Mary as having dissociative identity disorder. A main reason would be the obviousness of the presence of her alters. Each has its own unique behavior, memories of the event, and relationship to Mary. Billy “lives” in the eyes, offering “protection.” Princess “lives” in the tongue, as she is the most talkative of the alters. Simon claims to “live” in the “gut,” and claims full responsibility for motivating Mary to commit murder. As the average onset of DID begins in childhood and is not diagnosed until much later, this supports my conclusion.  Furthermore, the strongest case for a DID diagnosis comes from the post-traumatic model. Mary was not only able to compartmentalize and contain her negative experience, she manifested new personalities as a coping mechanism, allowing the alters to form their unique identities as different “accounts” of what happened. This is a reaction unique to DID, as without the alters, she would most likely be recognized to suffer from Repressed Memory Syndrome. That form of dissociation makes significant memories unavailable for recall, particularly when they are exceptionally traumatic.
   As to a treatment plan, I would recommend psychoanalytic therapy. A psychiatrist should meet with her for sessions intended to understand why her reaction to trauma was to dissociate so strongly. As the alters maintain the memories, the goal of treatment is to reintegrate those personalities and the knowledge they hold back into the core: Mary. If she can be helped to come to terms with the events of that night, the personalities will no longer be needed for emotional protection, thus eliminating the most severe symptoms of the disorder.
   

[LucieLou]

Enjoyed your diagnosis! you should make a good grade on this class project.

[TootUncommon]

Wow I am impressed!  Probably good that you switched to Mary.  Everyone knows Gordon was just your average psycho wingnut.  Let us know what you get on this work!

[Zwheels]

try this site for Diagnose's ..This is from one of my Earlier post's.. 
http://nutrias.org/inv/cityinsaneasylum.htm

A snipit from the records...
"Augusta Bartils, white, female, aged 42 years, widow, native of Germany, recommended her commitment to the State Insane Asylum at Jackson, on November 4th, 1882, finding her suffering from Stupidity.
This woman has been in the Home of the Aged & Infirm for some time. She is stubborn, stupid. You can with difficulty obtain a reasonable answer from her. She knows not where she is"

"Peter Ackers, male, white, 29 years old, single, native of N.O., La. recommended his commitment to the S. I. A. at Jackson on June 8th 1883, finding him suffering from stupidity.
This man is not exactly a microcephalus, though his head is somewhat small. He is very foolish, unable to answer some of the most simple questions."

[Big Ed]

Paranoid Schizophrenia?

[Mugen_1]

Grades are in: 40/40 on this paper!


Now I have to write another one, one page single space, inventing a new disorder to be added to the DSM-IV model. Can't be one that already exists, obviously.

Any ideas? 

[Dr Sketch]

Sketchieitis.  The unstoppable urge to make dirty comments.

[Zwheels]

I took care of an old Gentleman who made little animals out of his poop.

How about the overwhelming need to explore abandoned buildings?