Trigger warnings: rape, schizophrenia, epilepsy
When a primary understanding of mental illnesses like schizophrenia comes from mainstream media,
it becomes important to pay close attention to the accuracy of the portrayal. Films like Joker (2019),
Fight Club (1999), and Shutter Island (2010), are among the highest grossing films that feature characters with symptoms
of schizophrenia ("Most Popular Schizophrenia Movies and TV Shows - IMDb", 2019). Unfortunately, most of these popular
portrayals depict those diagnosed with schizophrenia as being violent and unstable. While it is true that psychotic
episodes can have violent manifestations, these portrayals fail to capture the nuances of schizophrenia (Goldberg, 2018).
A highly accurate depiction, however, can be found in an Indian film that never entered the mainstream- 15 Park Avenue.
The film revolves around Meethi, a middle-aged woman who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and epilepsy.
This blog post will zoom into the movie’s depiction of the phases of schizophrenia, and the overall accuracy of its portrayal.
it becomes important to pay close attention to the accuracy of the portrayal. Films like Joker (2019),
Fight Club (1999), and Shutter Island (2010), are among the highest grossing films that feature characters with symptoms
of schizophrenia ("Most Popular Schizophrenia Movies and TV Shows - IMDb", 2019). Unfortunately, most of these popular
portrayals depict those diagnosed with schizophrenia as being violent and unstable. While it is true that psychotic
episodes can have violent manifestations, these portrayals fail to capture the nuances of schizophrenia (Goldberg, 2018).
A highly accurate depiction, however, can be found in an Indian film that never entered the mainstream- 15 Park Avenue.
The film revolves around Meethi, a middle-aged woman who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and epilepsy.
This blog post will zoom into the movie’s depiction of the phases of schizophrenia, and the overall accuracy of its portrayal.
There are three phases of schizophrenia, and all three are seen in the movie (Holland, 2019).
In the prodromal (pre-psychotic) phase, Meethi seems lively and functional. The only indicators of her
schizophrenia are that she is taking antipsychotic medication and that she talks about a guy who calls her and
says ‘bad things’. However, the pre-psychotic phase is typically characterized by changes such as self-isolatory
behaviour or cognitive deficiencies (Bhandari, 2018). Since these symptoms are not visible, the movie fails to depict
this stage accurately.
In the prodromal (pre-psychotic) phase, Meethi seems lively and functional. The only indicators of her
schizophrenia are that she is taking antipsychotic medication and that she talks about a guy who calls her and
says ‘bad things’. However, the pre-psychotic phase is typically characterized by changes such as self-isolatory
behaviour or cognitive deficiencies (Bhandari, 2018). Since these symptoms are not visible, the movie fails to depict
this stage accurately.
There isn’t sufficient clarity in the movie regarding the duration of the acute (psychotic) phases, but they seem to be
frequent and long-lasting. In this phase, she shows positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions,
and disorganized speech (Goldberg, 2018). Meethi visually hallucinates a family of her own; she constantly talks about her husband and
five children, and can often be seen interacting with them. She is always looking for her imaginary home, 15 Park Avenue, and is able to
describe it in vivid detail. She also experiences auditory hallucinations, and in one instance she hears voices of newscasters in her mind
who tell her family that she is missing.
frequent and long-lasting. In this phase, she shows positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions,
and disorganized speech (Goldberg, 2018). Meethi visually hallucinates a family of her own; she constantly talks about her husband and
five children, and can often be seen interacting with them. She is always looking for her imaginary home, 15 Park Avenue, and is able to
describe it in vivid detail. She also experiences auditory hallucinations, and in one instance she hears voices of newscasters in her mind
who tell her family that she is missing.
Meethi displays delusions of persecution and delusions of reference ("An Overview of Schizophrenia - AIPC Article Library", 2009).
The former can be seen in her constantly suspicious behaviour; she thinks everybody is scheming against her, especially her elder sister
(who is her primary caretaker). She thinks her schizophrenia is just a ruse created by her sister in order to make Meethi do household chores.
The delusion of reference is that she believes Saddam Hussain is communicating with her via the television; she thinks
he is the one who will save her, and the idea of his death sends her into a fit. There is also disorganized speech
that manifests as derailment of speech: she goes from talking about her husband to talking about Saddam
Hussain and George Bush, and believes that the two subjects are connected ("An Overview of Schizophrenia - AIPC Article Library", 2009).
The former can be seen in her constantly suspicious behaviour; she thinks everybody is scheming against her, especially her elder sister
(who is her primary caretaker). She thinks her schizophrenia is just a ruse created by her sister in order to make Meethi do household chores.
The delusion of reference is that she believes Saddam Hussain is communicating with her via the television; she thinks
he is the one who will save her, and the idea of his death sends her into a fit. There is also disorganized speech
that manifests as derailment of speech: she goes from talking about her husband to talking about Saddam
Hussain and George Bush, and believes that the two subjects are connected ("An Overview of Schizophrenia - AIPC Article Library", 2009).
We see Meethi in a residual (recovery) phase when she returns home after a year of institutionalization.
While the positive symptoms are no longer visible, there are prominent negative symptoms, such as blunted affect,
alogia, and avolition ("An Overview of Schizophrenia - AIPC Article Library", 2009). Meethi is clearly withdrawn from her family,
speaks very little, looks fatigued and unmotivated, and does not react emotionally to anybody’s words or actions.
It is typical for those in the residual phase to show these negative symptoms (Khan, Kalia, Ide, & Ghavami, 2017).
While the positive symptoms are no longer visible, there are prominent negative symptoms, such as blunted affect,
alogia, and avolition ("An Overview of Schizophrenia - AIPC Article Library", 2009). Meethi is clearly withdrawn from her family,
speaks very little, looks fatigued and unmotivated, and does not react emotionally to anybody’s words or actions.
It is typical for those in the residual phase to show these negative symptoms (Khan, Kalia, Ide, & Ghavami, 2017).
Schizophrenia can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, brain abnormalities, and
environmental stressors (Goldberg, 2018). The movie accurately portrays the way in which nature and nurture
together trigger schizophrenia. While Meethi shows symptoms of delusions and social withdrawal at an early age,
her first psychotic episode is triggered in the aftermath of a traumatic gang-rape. Her psychiatrist explains that it
wasn’t just the rape that led to psychosis, and there is an active effort made to put emphasis on the variety of interlinked
causes leading to schizophrenia.
environmental stressors (Goldberg, 2018). The movie accurately portrays the way in which nature and nurture
together trigger schizophrenia. While Meethi shows symptoms of delusions and social withdrawal at an early age,
her first psychotic episode is triggered in the aftermath of a traumatic gang-rape. Her psychiatrist explains that it
wasn’t just the rape that led to psychosis, and there is an active effort made to put emphasis on the variety of interlinked
causes leading to schizophrenia.
The movie is not free of flaws; in addition to the inaccurate representation of the prodromal phase, it sometimes fails to use
the appropriate vocabulary to address mental illness. The psychiatrist refers to neurotypicals as being “normal”, and there
are also dialogues that call Meethi “pagal” or “crazy”. In spite of these issues, 15 Park Avenue busts myths around schizophrenia
by showing the psychiatrist explaining key concepts to Meethi’s elder sister. It also shows the typical Indian perception of mental
illness, such as their maid’s firm belief that Tantric practices will cure Meethi. Finally, it doesn’t shy away from showing the very
real impact of mental illnesses on caretakers. Although 15 Park Avenue was a “flop” in the box office, it’s a hit as far as psychological
accuracy is concerned.
the appropriate vocabulary to address mental illness. The psychiatrist refers to neurotypicals as being “normal”, and there
are also dialogues that call Meethi “pagal” or “crazy”. In spite of these issues, 15 Park Avenue busts myths around schizophrenia
by showing the psychiatrist explaining key concepts to Meethi’s elder sister. It also shows the typical Indian perception of mental
illness, such as their maid’s firm belief that Tantric practices will cure Meethi. Finally, it doesn’t shy away from showing the very
real impact of mental illnesses on caretakers. Although 15 Park Avenue was a “flop” in the box office, it’s a hit as far as psychological
accuracy is concerned.
References:
15 Park Avenue. (2005). [film] Directed by A. Sen. Bipin Vohra.
An Overview of Schizophrenia - AIPC Article Library. (2009). Retrieved 29 November
2019, from https://www.aipc.net.au/articles/an-overview-of-schizophrenia/
Bhandari, S. (2018). What Is Schizophrenia Prodrome?. Retrieved 29 November 2019,
Goldberg, J. (2018). Mental Health and Schizophrenia. Retrieved 29 November 2019,
Holland, K. (2019). Explaining the Phases of Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Treatment &
More. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/phases-of-schizophrenia#symptoms [Accessed 29 Nov. 2019].
Khan, Ahsan & Kalia, Rachna & Ide, George & Ghavami, Mona. (2017). Residual
symptoms of schizophrenia: what are the realistic treatment goals?. Current
psychiatry. 16. 34-40.
Most Popular Schizophrenia Movies and TV Shows - IMDb. (2019). Retrieved 29
November 2019, from https://www.imdb.com/search/keyword/?keywords=schizophrenia
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