Causes of Alan’s Anxiety Disorder from the Biopsychosocial Perspective
Determining the cause of the phobia from a biopsychosocial perspective is not an easy task, as there is a high probability that a combination of many factors is involved. The man in episode 7 of Truly Madly Deeply 2 shows clear signs of a specific phobia: his object of fear is clowns (Kelley, 2005). The most successful model for describing this case of a specific disorder is the diathesis-stress model. This model suggests that the cause of a phobia is a combination of two reasons: an innate predisposition and a stressful situation.
The term diathesis refers to a biological factor that, under certain circumstances, can manifest itself and lead to the development of a disorder. The information presented in the video does not provide clear evidence to favor this theory, but such an assumption is acceptable. It is known that congenital features can cause mental illness, but the presence of a biological factor does not guarantee symptoms’ development (Nevid et al., 2017).
Often, it is not possible to establish the presence of an innate tendency in a patient. The second aspect that belongs to the category of cognitive/psychological factors is stressful situations. The video’s protagonist says that he developed a fear of clowns after a traumatic experience in early childhood (Kelley, 2005). That fact confirms the validity of the diathesis-stress model.
Evidence of Alan Meeting DSM-5 Criteria for Specific Phobia
According to the DSM-5 criteria, Alan’s symptoms can be classified as a specific phobia. In the video, he demonstrates anxiety when a clown is nearby – the object of his fear. Symptoms appear immediately at the moment of visual contact with the trigger. The third criterion for a specific phobia, according to DSM-5, is persistent avoidance of the object of fear (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Alan does not want to interact with the clown, and the offer to press his nose causes a panic attack in the man (Kelley, 2005).
The presence of the object of fear in one room does not allow him to perform his professional duties. The man’s fear is irrational – the clown poses no threat to him. During a conversation with his colleague, Alan reveals that the clown reminds him of a childhood traumatic experience that also meets the DSM-5 criteria for the condition.
Analysis of Brad’s Informal Intervention and Its Relation to Formal Treatment
To help Alan overcome his fear, Bret invites him to meet him face to face. To do this, a man must approach and interact with the clown. This practice is clearly in line with the exposure therapy protocol, which is based on the need to face the source of fear in a safe environment. This formal intervention demonstrates significant effectiveness in combating phobias (McLean et al., 2021). An essential detail of the video is that Alan has the opportunity to face a friendly clown, a source of fear that does not pose a danger to him.
Demonstration of Mental Health Stigma Experienced by Alan
Social stigma is a common problem that worsens the lives of people with mental disorders. The video shows that Alan faces ridicule and prejudice from those around him because of his phobia. One of his colleagues asks, “How can you be afraid of clowns?” The other characters in the video laugh at him.
This attitude leads to the devaluation of Alan’s feelings and exacerbates his negative symptoms. No matter how ridiculous a phobia may seem, it should not become an object of ridicule. It is essential to understand that this is a severe problem that often directly prevents a person from leading a normal life.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). Web.
Kelley, D. E. (2005). Truly madly, deeply (Season 2, episode 7) [TV series episode].
In D. E. Kelley & B. D’Elia (Executive Producers), Boston Legal. David E. Kelley Productions.
McLean, C. P., Levy, H. C., Miller, M. S., & Tolin, D. F. (2021). Exposure therapy for PTSD: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 91, 102115. Web.
Nevid, J. S., Rathus, S. A., & Greene, B. (2017). Abnormal Psychology in a Changing World. Pearson Higher Education.