In Session with “Silver Linings Playbook”

August 31, 2020

Excelsior! You voted. We listened. Join us as Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran put Silver Linings Playbook on the couch this week. (Just don’t sit in Pat’s dad’s favorite spot or you’ll mess up the juju.)

This week, the doctors discuss the critically acclaimed 2012 film, Silver Linings Playbook, which bravely explores mental health through the outstanding performances of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro.

With so much to cover, the doctors focus their attention on one of the most often portrayed but frequently misunderstood diagnoses—bipolar disorder. As Pat (Bradley Cooper) returns home from an eight-months stay in psychiatric hospital, he attempts to win back his ex-wife while moving in with his parents and coping with this new diagnosis. But does Cooper’s portrayal conform to what we might expect for someone with bipolar disorder? We play Diagnosis Bingo to find out.

Plus, what do we make of Dr. Patel’s approach to treating Pat? And will Dr. Sam and Dr. Fran approve of going shirtless and body painted to a Philadelphia Eagles tailgate with your patient? Let’s just say I wouldn’t bet your restaurant on it.

If we’re reading the signs, you’re going to love this episode. So put down that Ernest Hemingway novel and plug in your headphones. Let’s dance.

Glossary of Terms

Mania– a period of extremely elevated or irritable mood

Goal-directed behavior– excessive planning or participation in activities beyond an individual’s typical activity level

Pressured speech– rapid speech that doesn’t stop at appropriate intervals, often speaking at a louder volume and about many ideas at once

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)– a common type of therapy focused on challenging unhelpful thoughts and improving coping skills, can be used to treat Bipolar disorder

Comorbidity– two medical or mental health conditions occurring at the same time

Poor reciprocity– having difficulties with the back-and-forth flow of social interaction

Emotional instability– abrupt changes in moods or emotional states

Rapport– trust and relationship between therapist and patient or client

Dual roles (also called multiple relationships)– when multiple roles exist between a patient and therapist

Internalize– to keep or take something in

Resilience– process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress

References

Learn more about Bipolar Disorder here and here

Check out this article to read more about treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Want to learn more about the overlap between ADHD and Bipolar Disorder? Click here.

Get more information on Borderline Personality Disorder here

Read about what multiple relationships are and when they are unethical