Full List of 503 Movies Considered for the Study on “Madness at the Movies: Prioritised Movies for Self-Directed Learning by Medical Students”
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Background Report: Full list of 503 movies considered for the study on “Madness at the Movies: Prioritised Movies for Self-Directed Learning by Medical Students” Nick Wilson,1* Deb Heath,2 Tim Heath,3 Peter Gallagher,1 Mark Huthwaite1 1 University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand 2 Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand 3 Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand Table 1 provides the list of 23 movies (4.6% of the 503 identified) that were selected for further viewing and ranking. Our final prioritised selection of ten movies (with at least two movies for each of the four topic areas) is also shown in Table 1. In Table 2 is the full list of 503 movies considered, along with reasons why they were excluded from further consideration. Table 1: The final selection of 23 movies within the four top topic areas, i.e., those with reasonable artistic/entertainment value (released from 1960 onwards, a “Rotten Tomato” (RT) score of 7.5, and related to a major area of mental health) Movie title RT Collective Description / comments (Year) avera ranking by ge the score authors (/10) (1=best) Depressive and anxiety disorders Ordinary People 7.8 3 This movie covers “both major depression and post-traumatic (1980) stress disorder” (PTSD). The role played by the psychiatrist has been described as particularly positive.1 Praise for this movie has been noted in the literature.2 Silver Linings 8.2 8 This movie is a romantic comedy but has quite detailed content Playbook (2012) around the lead character’s bipolar disorder. The main female character has unclear mental health issues (possibly a borderline personality disorder) and the father may have an obsessive compulsive personality disorder. Le Feu Follet 7.7 Ruled out* This movie was ruled out on the grounds of being particularly (1963) (the Fire grim with no substantially positive role played by any health Within) professional. The nature of the lead character’s depression seems very existential in nature and the approach to treating his alcoholism seemed very outdated. The Secret 7.8 Ruled out* This movie was ruled out as the mental health aspects were Garden (1993) considered too unrealistic. Illicit drug use Trainspotting 8.3 1 This movie provides insights in the various problems associated (1996) with heroin use. It shows the problems of crime, urban squalor, withdrawal experience, death from HIV/AIDS, and death from neglect (death of infant). One character (Begbie) shows extreme sociopathic tendencies (violent attacks on others). There is extensive poly-drug use: especially smoking and alcohol use. Various aspects of the movie are also considered in the literature.3 4 Winter's Bone 8.3 4 This movie provides an excellent portrayal of survival in a (2010) difficult drug-using environment. The lead character is shown to deal strongly with a situation of poverty and the production and use of methamphetamine in the community. The mother’s mental illness is unclear (possibly depression) and some of the other characters exhibit sociopathic and aggressive tendencies. 1 Movie title RT Collective Description / comments (Year) avera ranking by ge the score authors (/10) (1=best) Rachel Getting 7.5 7 This movie deals with drug dependency and recovery (the main Married (2008) character participates in a 12-step programme). Various forms of both family support and family dysfunction (e.g., the detached mother) are shown. At times the level of narcissism by the main character is quite marked – so a narcissitic personality disorder is also a possible additional diagnosis. Half Nelson 7.6 9 This movie is about drug culture and drug addiction (the lead (2006) character is dependent on crack cocaine). A possible limitation from an educational perspective is that it is just too grim and no therapeutic interventions are involved (the main character says that rehabilitation has not worked in the past for him). The lead character’s life seems to be a downward spiral of more dysfunctional relationships, episodes of violence and (apparently) losing his job. The life of a student, involved with the main character is also grim and we see her graduation into drug dealing. The teacher-student relationship portrayed has some unprofessional and inappropriate aspects. Drugstore 8.0 Outside This movie details drug culture and the associated crime (e.g., Cowboy (1989) top ten robbing pharmacies). The main character eventually goes into rehab but it is difficult for him to extricate himself from his past life. Limitations with this movie are its various unrealistic aspects (e.g., the main characters may seem too well dressed and good looking to be drug dependent). It is referred to in the literature e.g., by Cape3 (addiction issues) and in Castaldelli-Maia et al4 and Robinson 2003.1 21 Grams (2003) 7.5 Ruled out* Ruled out as the drug use content was not a strong enough theme. Blue Velvet 8.6 Ruled out* Ruled out due to the disturbing content (e.g., sexual sadism) and (1986) lack of educational value around the portrayal of the drug abuse aspects. Alcohol use disorders Another Year 8.2 2 This movie details heavy drinking by several of the characters (2010) and shows how deeply embedded the nature of alcohol use is in many people’s lives. Depression and chronic unhappiness are also major themes. It shows various health professional activities (especially counselling) in a positive light and the character portrayals are particularly rich. Passion Fish 7.7 10 This movie shows the alcoholism of the main character and the (1992) other major character has recently been in rehabilitation for cocaine dependency. A possible limitation from an educational perspective is that the “treatment” of the main character’s alcoholism is fairly simplistic and somewhat unrealistic. The movie also shows some of the social problems arising from drug dependency (the daughter of the nurse Chantelle has been removed from her mother’s care). Days of Wine 9.0 Ruled out* Considered too dated in terms of the movie style and also the and Roses management of the alcoholism. (1962) The Spectacular 7.8 Ruled out* A coming-of-age drama that includes a lot of teenage drinking. Now (2013) But ultimately the consequences of the drinking were not very significant. It is more about boy-girl and boy-parent relationships and facing up to various challenges of growing up for teenagers (e.g., life after high school). Long Day’s 8.2 Ruled out* This movie has characters with alcohol problems and morphine Journey into dependency. But it seemed fairly dated (the setting was in the Night (1962 film) year 1912). The 1987 version is also relatively long (at 169 (also 1987) minutes). 2 Movie title RT Collective Description / comments (Year) avera ranking by ge the score authors (/10) (1=best) Leaving Las 7.7 Ruled out* Ruled out due to the very grim outcome and low educational Vegas (1995) value around how alcoholism is portrayed. A Woman Under 8.4 Ruled out* Ruled out due to the fairly unrelentingly disturbing nature of the the Influence main characters illness and the low educational value (her (1974) alcohol problem is mixed in with somewhat unclear other diagnoses). Psychotic disorders The Devil and 7.5 5 This movie is a documentary about the life of a musician/artist Daniel Johnston who is described as having a bipolar disorder (but which could (2006) be considered to be more the features of a schizoaffective disorder). It richly details many aspects of the impact of his illness on Daniel’s life, including on his creativity and on his friends and family. Nevertheless, it does not deal with treatment aspects to any significant degree (i.e., no health professionals are interviewed). For some viewers the “outsider” and “lo-fi” music genre may have limited appeal. An Angel at My 7.5 6 This movie covers the early life of a famous New Zealand writer Table (1990) (in real life – Janet Frame). There are aspects of the movie which support varying possible diagnoses e.g., schizophrenia (reflecting the thinking of the time). This movie is covered in the literature,5 along with discussions around her diagnosis (e.g., the alternative possibility of high functioning autism,6 with this debated in subsequent published letters responding to this journal article on the autism topic). Spider (2002) 7.5 Outside This movie gives a detailed representation of a person with a top ten psychotic illness. It suggests a role for past adverse life events in causing this illness. It is favourably referred to in the literature.5 Nevertheless, the violence in the movie could be considered problematic (in terms of reinforcing negative stereotypes around mental illness and violence). Through a Glass 8.7 Ruled out* This movie shows a person with a psychotic illness who Darkly (1961) eventually needs to be re-hospitalised. It is referred to in the literature.5 However, it was ruled out as the movie style seemed very dated and the treatment approaches were also very dated. Clean, Shaven 7.8 Ruled out* Ruled out given the grim content (including murder scenes and (1995) self-mutilation scenes) and also the adverse outcomes (with no psychiatric interventions involved). Nevertheless, it has been 1 praised by at least one psychiatrist. * Ruled out by at least one author, and usually at least two authors (for the reasons as stated in the right-hand column). 3 Table 2: Full dataset of movies considered with reasons for exclusion (if appropriate). (RT = Rotten Tomato score; NA = not available in RT; NR = not reviewed in RT) Movie title (Year) Classificat RT RT Comment – ordered ion average freshness alphabetically score score (%) (/10) Ordinary People Viewed by 7.8 91 Praise for this movie has been noted in the literature.2 It (1980) authors covers “both major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD).