Analysis of Major Characters in Silver Linings Playbook

Running head: ANALYSIS OF MAJOR CHARACTERS IN SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
ANALYSIS OF MAJOR CHARACTERS IN SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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ANALYSIS OF MAJOR CHARACTERS IN SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Introduction
The aim of the essay is to understand the mental health issue that the main character
suffers from in the movie Silver Linings Playbook. The essay will follow a systematic order
starting with a brief synopsis or summary of the movie. This will be followed by providing an
initial diagnosis of the main character. The next step will be to rule out those diagnoses that do
not associate with the main character wile gradually understanding the character. A tentative
treatment plan utilizing the Evidence Based Best Practices (EBBP) shall be prepared as well.
Initial diagnoses of the character shall be done followed by cancelling out the diagnoses as the
character evolved. The essay will also include the preferred EBBP treatment plan for the
character including its benefits and negative effects.
Discussion
Silver Linings Playbook, released in 2012 narrates the story of Pat Solitano (played by
Bradley Cooper) who suffers from bipolar disorder (Imdb.com, 2018). Directed by David O.
Russell, the film also has another character with bipolar, Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence)
who is shown being a major influence in Pat’s life. The film begins with Pat being released from
the mental health institution by his mother, Dolores (played by Jackie Weaver) (Imdb.com,
2018). After coming home, Pat finds it difficult to adjust to the normal life and often looses
temper on petty things. He assures his parents that he is completely cured now and that he would
only think about positive things and brings his wife Nikki (played by Brea Bee) back in his life.
His father, Pat Solitano Sr. (played by Robert De Niro) had no clue about his son’s release since
Dolores did not inform him. Pat visits Dr. Cliff Patel (played by Anupam Kher) on couple of
occasions to discuss his issues but refuses to take any medication as he believes the medicines

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ANALYSIS OF MAJOR CHARACTERS IN SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
escalate his condition. He initially runs away from Tiffany assuming that her bipolar is far worse
than his is but gradually, they collaborate and things begin to improve.
In the movie, Pat is diagnosed with bipolar disorder but with mild symptoms. He was out
into the mental health institution for eight months after he beat his wife’s lover almost to death.
His mother has him released getting a court order and brings him home. On the first day of his
return, Pat starts showing symptoms of bipolar disorder, as he is over excited and pumped up to
be back and plans to get his wife back. During the night, Pat shows extreme signs of anger when
he throws away a book of Ernest Hemingway through the window because he did not like the
story. He storms into his parent’s room and expresses his anger even though they tell him that is
four in the morning. The movie excels in the part where it shows the father having a mental
health issue of his own, which Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. The OCD, similar to
bipolar disorder is where an individual has reoccurring and uncontrollable behaviors and
thoughts the she or he has the “urge to repeat over and over” (Nimh.nih.gov, 2018). In case of
Pat Sr., the obsession is with the game and the superstition to keep things in a specific order to
make his team win.
As per the DSM-5 criterion, a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he or she
demonstrates symptoms of anxiety, unusual restlessness, and feeling tensed among others
(Severus & Bauer, 2013). These symptoms align with those demonstrated by Pat when he returns
home and tries to improve his life. Other initial diagnosis reveal that Pat has rapid and pressured
speech toggling from loud to illogical, mood switch, flashbacks concerning manic episodes. In
addition, the diagnosis also included severe and sudden mood changes, delusions before
traumatic incident, low grab of desire control and fair insight and extreme obsession with wife
(Vancampfort et al., 2013).