Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In Matchstick Men

While Matchstick Men depicts Nicholas Cage’s character, Roy, as a person with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder really well; meaning his disorder falls under the four D categories of abnormal psychology, it can be argued that Roy actually does not have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. After Roy dropped his illegally obtained pink pills that resemble Paroxetine for treating OCD, his partner in crime, Frank, suggested he go see a shrink. Dr. Klein disagreed with Roy on him having this disorder, believing it may be something else. It can be argued that Roy had a substance dependency on these pills his previous doctor gave him and believed so deeply that he had a disorder that could only be treated with medicine. Dr. Klein gave Roy vitamins that Roy believed was medication, his symptoms declined while he believed to be taking this medication, exhibiting the placebo effect. Roy’s messy car and habit of smoking and spreading ashes in his car as well as in his home contradict his compulsions and obsessions of cleanliness, although when there is a mess he becomes dysfunctional and

a danger to himself.
While it is possible Roy has OCD that is targeted by anxiety, Roy may have Schizoid Personality Disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2003), a person with Schizoid Personality Disorder has a large detachment from any type of social relationships and shows lack of emotions in group settings: does not desire any close relationships or to be a part of a family, chooses to be alone and does not partake in many activities, lacks sexual interest, does not have many friends, is nonchalant to opinions of others, and is emotionally unintelligent. When relating this to Roy, it is clear he lives alone, does not partake in social media due to his lack of television at his home, has not had a romantic relationship since divorcing his wife 15 year ago, and only has his one partner who he is not very close to, with exclusion of his partner’s knowledge of Roy’s disorder. A feature of this disorder includes brief psychotic episodes that can last up to hours. An example of this is when Frank comes into his home with shoes and Roy panics about germs. This disorder is closely tied to paranoia as well as mysophobia, which is a fear of germs, explaining why Roy has excessive amounts of cleaning supplies.
Roy believes himself to have agoraphobia, which, according to Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, is a fear of being outside or in places where one cannot escape from with ease in an emergency.

In a scene where Roy and Frank play Federal agents to con a couple into signing a form where the two of them can cash a check the couple had written, the wife opens the glass door, revealing all the sunlight and particles in the air coming inside the home. Roy is almost catatonic for a brief moment before he begins to show symptoms of his perceived disorder. What Roy may actually be feeling is paranoia of contamination. In another scene where Roy picks up his daughter, he seems fine standing outside a park and comfortable sitting in a busy restaurant while his daughter eats her meal. Were he afraid of being outdoors, he would have been uncomfortable the entire time, or may have never left his car to pick up his

daughter.
According to the American Psychiatry Association (2003), Schizoid Personality Disorder co-occurs with paranoid personality disorder. It is safe to acknowledge Roy is paranoid of being exploited, withdraws information and is hesitant to confide in Frank. Roy hides a gun and cash in a secret compartment inside a statue of an English bulldog as well as thousands of dollars in a safe inside a bank, attaining to his paranoia of one day being in immediate danger and in need of a gun and liquidated cash. When Frank wants to conduct one last con to get rich, Roy does not trust him to accomplish this scheme and says no several times. Roy is also paranoid of becoming contaminated by germs, which explains his excessive purchases of cleaning detergents and why he washes his hands excessively.