Over the past few weeks, I watched the Showtime series Homeland,
and I have truly enjoyed it. I do not ordinarily have the opportunity to watch
television; however, this series captivated me as a mental health
student-practitioner and an individual who enjoys action and intrigue. The main
character, Carrie Mathison, is played by Claire Danes. She suffers from Bipolar
Disorder, a condition that is characterized by mania and major depression.
Carrie keeps her condition a secret from her employers until the end of the
series. She goes through a downward spiral of mental anguish in an attempt to
prevent the current terrorist plot against the Vice-President of the United
States.
Those who view the series and who are unfamiliar with the
symptoms and treatment of bipolar disorder gain some insight into its’
implications in the case of a government operations officer. Carrie indicates
that she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder while she was in college which is generally around the average age of onset for this disorder. It is recurrent with manic episodes
preceding or following episodes of major depression. The recurrence of symptoms is apparent with
Carrie as she goes into manic episodes that are focused on investigating the
terrorist plot and the time-line involving the terrorist leader. She displays
symptoms of rapid speech, racing thoughts, distractibility, increased activity
and/or agitation and poor judgment during her manic episodes. Her work schedule
intensifies the occurrence of symptoms as she undergoes sleep deprivation that
aggravates her episodes. We see her spiral into a dysphoric mania after she is
exposed to a bombing that is marked by irritability, severe anxiety,
pessimism, unrelenting worry, significant risk of suicide, and a decreased need for
sleep.
The show exemplifies the interpersonal and/or occupational
issues that result from the onset of serious symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. It
is an example of one case out of more than half of those individuals who suffer
from this disorder. Carrie displays psychotic symptoms during her manic
episodes that are a common occurrence when previous manic episodes are
presented with the same symptomatology. Her obsession with her work often
causes her to have incomplete interepisode recoveries. She goes on a
rollercoaster of events that ultimately leads her to believe that she is
experiencing psychotic symptoms. Carrie's attempt at understanding the cause
and effect relationships of the case exacerbates her psychotic episodes. She
was previously able to hide and control the onset of her symptoms; however, the
last episode of the season shows how her downward spiral ultimately reveals her
hidden secret to the agency and she loses her security clearance.
Although she is undergoing psychopharmacological treatment for
the disorder, it is not enough to help her in keeping her secret from her
employer. As a means of improving behavior during a current manic episode,
treatment plans typically begin with both an anti-manic medication and an
antipsychotic medication. The psychopharmacological intervention during the
last episode demonstrates the importance of family intervention. Severe
episodic onset of mania or depression can mean uncontrollable behavior and poor
judgment that necessitates precautions from inflicting any harm.
One
of the occupational hazards of Carrie’s profession is poor lifestyle management
that is a hindrance to the stability of her overall mental health. Proper
lifestyle management includes maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle, avoidance
of shift work that can often lead to sleep deprivation, regular annual bright
sunlight exposure, and the avoidance of alcohol, illicit drug, and substance
use. All of these elements are important in relapse prevention and is essential
to psychopharmacological treatment. Carrie attempts to resolve her issues and
her failure to maintain her mood disorder through a proper lifestyle by
undergoing electroshock treatment. The new season will show the results of this
form of treatment.
I am interested to see how they further develop this
character in the show as she attempts to address her health and her love for
her profession. Homeland is set to premiere on Sunday, September 30, 2012.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a mood disorder
like Bipolar Disorder, please feel free to check out these resources www.dbsalliance.org or
For more information, contact info@ars-mhrcs.com
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