Case Study Girl Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted- A Video Response

Differences in Initial Meeting or Diagnosis

Difference in Medical Response1

Susanne tried unsuccessfully to hurt herself and was not admitted to the medical hospital for a 72-hour psych hold. She was released back into the custody of her family. There appeared to be no follow up treatment from the hospital or medical organization that helped thwart the suicide attempt. Susanne was released back into the care of her family without the issuance of a case worker or without referral to external resources to help with her situation. Ultimately, she was sent to a bias family friend to receive treatment for her condition. (Mangold, 1999)

From the unset of her tale, one can tell a few advancements since the timing of the story in the 1960’s. First, it is uncommon when a patient is admitted into an emergency with an active attempt on their life for the patient to be release quickly to their family. Normal procedures state that they patient can be held for 48-72 hours if the physician believes there may be a genuine chance of harm. Second, it is also uncommon, that there would be no human services offered to the patient. It is more likely that if the patient was released, no matter if it is

against medical advice or being discharged due to over-crowding that they would have been referred to an outside physician or to a case worker with their local Department of Human Services.
Difference in Diagnostic Care.
The doctor whom she was speaking with was argumentative.

From the being of the known session, he may have been using Gestalt therapy practices questioning what Susanna saw as real. There was no true effort to examine what caused the client’s initial behavior. At one point, Susanna lost herself into a flash back and therapist want to blame her feelings and thought process on recreational drug instead of a psychiatric illness that may have been contributed to past experiences. After Susanne stated that she was not on any recreational drugs, the doctor suggests she needed rest to relieve her illness. When Susanne suggested she go home and rest, the doctor stated she needed to go to a place “where people like her could get real rest”. (Mangold,

1999)
It is uncommon for many therapists to practice this level of argumentative behavior with new clientele. In my most recent studies from my Intro to Counseling classes, we learn that even with the Gestalt line of therapy a feeling of trust must be established between the therapist and clientele. Likewise, in my opinion it would be nearly impossible for the therapist to determine that the client needed to be hospitalized after such a short amount of time and with such limited information. This showcases to me that the end result was not the client’s well-being but, to remove her from her social structure due to a previous illness.

Treatment of Symptoms not illness.
In the institutional setting that Susanna founds herself in the entire staff works more towards treating the client’s symptoms not illness. The staff is prone to treat outburst with medical sedatives and restraints. Also, immediately upon entering the facility, patients are prescribed psychiatrist medications without first being examined. While there are some other forms of artistic therapy, there are limited amounts of talk therapy in the form of group therapy. Susanne does have some form of talk therapy with her doctor. However, it is for a limited amount of time during her stay. (Mangold,1999)
This is in direct contradiction of the practices of modern day treatment. Patients are not given random psychiatric medicine without first being evaluated by a doctor. Also, while sometimes it is necessary to sedate patience it is not always the first step in calming a patient who is unruly down. Talk and group therapy has become an essential part of the healing process.