Psychological Issues in Ordinary People

There are many psychological issues uncovered in this book and many problems suspected, although not all diagnosed. Each of the characters in the family has psychological problems, and together they are in a muddle of difficulty and problematic communication.

There are at least three separate treatment situations. First, there is the treatment of Conrad at the mental hospital, which involved both talk therapy and ECT. Then, there is the treatment of Conrad by Dr. Berger, which relied on talk therapy. Finally, there is brief mention of Conrad's father, Cal, beginning to work with Dr. Berger on his own issues. The focus of this paper is the second course of treatment, with reference back to the first.

The major difficulty being treated is depression. In the book, the statement was made that Conrad's original diagnosis at the hospital was of Severe Depressive Episodes, with High Risk of Suicide (p. 33). His suicide attempt was a significant one and he was treated in the hospital for a period of eight months.

Although released to the community and living at home, there is indication throughout the early part of the book that Conrad still struggled with depression. In addition, anxiety, or even panic, seemed to be part of the constellation of symptoms he struggled with. There is some indication even of panic disorder, and some indication of claustrophobia. However, the main diagnosis of depression seemed an accur

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ndicated that he was aware that this was not commonly done, qualifying his invitation by saying "if you do that" (p. 261). Dr. Berger, however, replied in such a way as to indicate that Conrad was thought of as a friend and that he would be willing to stop at Conrad's house. He also extended an invitation to Conrad to stop by himself. Thus, he immediately moved the relationship from one of psychiatrist-patient to one of friendship, or acquaintanceship. There are two problems with this. First, it probably did not allow Conrad to completely experience the grief and loss over the end of the therapeutic relationship. Instead, it allowed Conrad to put that off, expecting that the relationship would be continued in another way. However, it would inevitably be changed and unlike the therapeutic one, which is a unique form of relationship. With Dr. Berger pretending that the relationship could simply be extended and continue to exist, although in a new form, undercuts Conrad's ability to understand and deal with loss. Since this has already been a problem of his, Dr. Berger's actions are not really therapeutic ones. It might have been more useful for him to help Conrad accept the end of the therapeutic relationship, grieve his

Category: Psychology - P