Ocpd In As Good As It Gets

As Good As It Gets

Before further investigation, I thought that As Good As It Gets was about a man, Melvin, with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. At first glance, this seemed like the obvious diagnosis; he portrayed both obsessions and compulsions. Melvin was very careful not to touch things that may have been germ ridden, such as door handles, borrowed jackets, and coughing children; he even brought his own dining utensils out to eat with him. He also engaged in some compulsions, such as when he was locking the door (several times in a row) and when putting on his slippers at night. However, it did not seem that the obsessions and compulsions were what the main problem was for Melvin. Throughout the film I noticed that he was rude to and inconsiderate of just about everyone he came in contact with. It was as though he had little affect for other people, something found in many personality disorders. I felt certain that it had to do with his disorder, but this type of behavior was not mentioned in any OCD literature. Then I looked further into Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. As with any Personality Disorder, OCPD involves an abnormal behavior pattern that can be maladaptive in many social situations. As shown in Melvin's case, this can include impulse control, a decreased ability to show warm emotions, and difficulty in
doing things in ways other than their own way. Melvin's impulse control problem was shown very clearly in just about any social situation he was put in. He was constantly criticizing people and saying things impulsively that he didn't necessarily mean (think the restaurant scene with Carol- just before she took off in disgust). Another diagnostic of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, according to mentalhealth.com, is [a preoccupation] with details…organization or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost. This was clearly shown when Melvin, Simon, and Carol set out on their road trip. Melvin had everything planned, right down to what songs were appropriate in each situation. Melvin's extreme rigidity and lack of ability to show any warmth were his main downfalls. Probably the clearest example of rigidity portrayed by Melvin was his need to eat at the same restaurant, at the same time, at the same table, with the same waitress- daily. When this proved impossible, when Carol didn't go to work, he went to extreme lengths to try to get his day back. By his reaction, you would think that his life was ruined by this one seemingly unimportant event- but as with many people with OCPD, he felt extreme anxiety that he couldn't let go because his routine was interrupted. Melvin's lack of kindness was shown very clearly in the way that he interacted with just about every person, especially in the start of the movie, with the exception of Carol. He was just outright rude to most people, and didn't seem to notice when he would say the wrong thing. For example, Melvin seemed shocked at the way Carol reacted by yelling when he said, "We're all going to die soon, especially your son," and had no problem calling Carol's replacement waitress an elephant. People with OCPD are not the only ones affected by the disorder. Family of a person with OCPD may suffer almost as much, without control of the disorder. Take Carol for instance- she cared very much about Melvin, but since he was lacking the emotional availability and amount shown was limited, she was having a very hard time relating to him. She tried to be accommodating and understanding, but he made this very difficult for her to do. Luckily, with treatment and education, this can be controlled, and many people learn to live and deal with this obstacle successfully.
Fortunately, as shown in the movie, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is treatable, and with promising results. Melvin started having real feelings and caring for the well being of Carol and the dog (and later on, Simon). These feelings led him to want to be a better person. The day that he took the dog to the restaurant, he moved out of his regular seat to be able to keep a better eye on the dog. This normally would have been a task too hard for Melvin to handle, but he did it for the dog, a form of CBT. Throughout the movie, he became more accommodating for people, and letting people get close to him (Carol, then Simon).
There are two kinds of treatment for OCPD, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication; both of which are utilized in this movie.
Behavior therapy involves exposure and response prevention. Exposure is the deliberate contact with anxiety provoking stimuli until the anxiety is decreased. Melvin demonstrated this by finally stepping on cracks on the sidewalk, as well as beginning to let other people into his life, even though they didn't necessarily fit into his schema of how things are supposed to be. This can be with the help of a psychologist or, sometimes, through hard work and determination, as Melvin
showed.
Melvin started taking his medication because Carol "[made him] want to be a better man." This medication was probably a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI). These SRIs work best when paired with some kind of CBT. The pairing of this medication with Melvin's desire to change for Carol showed some positive results for Melvin. Toward the end of the movie, he let Simon move in with him (showing compassion), stepped on sidewalk cracks (getting over a compulsion), and forgot to lock his door (another compulsion). Results like these are possible for most cases of the disorder, so after diagnosis, treatment and maintenance can allow a person to live a normal life.
After further studying Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, I conclude that the movie As Good As It Gets successfully portrays the disorder. The symptoms were reasonably realistic, as well were the treatment options. Melvin's treatment and results may have been a little quicker and simpler than real life, but basically, they were acurate. This movie is a convincing example of the disorder.