Psychopathology and the Media
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, abbreviated as DSM-5, is the 2013 overhaul to the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) manual on mental issues and is the principle reference utilized in the identification and determination of these conditions. The DSM -5 manual is considered to be more comprehensive and all-embracing, aspects that the APA manual lacked in (Comer, 2013). In the United States, the DSM serves as a general power for a psychiatric conclusion. It is a diagnostic tool that classifies the various disorders and guides the psychologists and other social scientists in going about various endeavours in the helping profession. Medication suggestions and instalment by human services suppliers are regularly controlled by DSM arrangements,opy so the presence of another rendition has noteworthy viable vitality (American psychology association, 2014).
The section on obsessive-compulsive and related conditions incorporates four new issues: excoriation (skin-picking) disorder, hoarding disorder, substance/medical-induced obsessive-compulsive and related disorder, and obsessive-compulsive and related disorder due to another medical condition" (American psychology association, 2014).
The media has tried to shed light into some of these conditions and how their impact on society via television shows, movies and print articles. The reality television shows. "Obsessed" is an American reality TV show started airing on the A&E Network on May 29, 2009. it reveals the genuine battle those affected face and medication of individuals afflicted with this condition, the show focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and general anxiety disorder." (American psychology association, 2014)
With the assistance of mental health experts, every scene of this A&E reality TV show delves into the psyche of a patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and shows a glimpse into the mind of these individuals. The sequel "hoarders” has a specific OCD "hoarding disorder" as its main focus. with this in mind the reality show takes its audience into the minds and lives of people afflicted by this condition, which causes them to compulsively collect and keep items ranging from attire, daily papers, junk, books electronics or bottles.."(American psychology association, 2014)
Although it sheds light on the issue every scene has a tendency to be set in a situation of crisis, for example, the risk of removal of a child from the home. It often may come across as excessively theatrical now and again; however this show gets much closer to the truth than most other "reality" TV shows (Comer, 2013). They demonstrate the step by step how to deal with the issue, the admission, the medication and post-medication. "Obsessed" and "Hoarders" for the most part shows how authentic help needs time, work and satisfactory, timely mediation. Part of it is because the show's dependability and accuracy hails from the way that treatment may not work or the customer backslides, representing an essential truth of medicine: "There is no mystery cure."(American psychology association, 2014)
Unfortunately, as TV is all about ratings viewership and as a commercial enterprise has to make a profit, most of these types of shows tend to focus on the dramatic, rather than the factual truths. A few shows may be better at fulfilling our baser senses than giving a faultless depiction of mental issues. Also a lot of fans watch "Obsessed" and “Hoarders” not to look into courses of treatment and sources of help but to delight in other individuals' issues and personal misery, but to make them feel better than themselves, and this fact raises concerns within the mental health professional fraternity (Psychiatry.org. 2014).
References
Aetv.(2014). Hoarders - Episodes, Video & Schedule - A&E. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.aetv.com/hoarders
American Psychology Association. (2014). Does TV accurately portray psychology?. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/09/psychology-shows.aspx
Comer, R. J. (2013). Abnormal psychology, DSM-5 Update (8th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers
Psychiatry.org. (2014). Anxiety Disorders | psychiatry.org. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.psychiatry.org/anxiety-disorders
