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DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder Criteria in “Crazy Heart” (2009)—A Media Content Analysis with Teaching Purposes

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Abstract

Objective

The movie Crazy Heart (2009) draws our attention to alcohol disorders as it has a large number of scenes which portray alcohol consumption and fulfill the new DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder (DSM-5-AUD) criteria. In view of the recent launch of DSM-5, this is an appropriate opportunity to explore alcohol consumption in a large number of scenes employing the DSM-5-AUD criteria to study this.

Methods

We use media content analysis to identify DSM-5 AUD criteria as portrayed by the main protagonist of the movie Bad Blake in a structured manner. We studied his behavior and attitudes in the context of the film structure and storyline.

Results

The severity continuum of DSM-5 AUD can be demonstrated through the trajectory of the character Bad Blake. In the course of the movie, there is some reference to all the DSM-5-AUD criteria, which can be applied to this character within the 21 scenes selected for this study.

Conclusion

This film can therefore be helpful and used to introduce students and trainees to the DSM-5-AUD criteria. It also allows teachers to discuss with their students and trainees the options of treatment including decision to quit drinking (total abstinence) and the recovery and relapse of this chronic condition.

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Disclosures

The authors have no competing interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundação do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil

    Rubens Dantas da Silva Jr., Arthur Guerra de Andrade & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia

  2. Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London, UK

    Dinesh Bhugra

  3. University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Arthur Guerra de Andrade, Francisco Lotufo-Neto & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia

Authors
  1. Rubens Dantas da Silva Jr.
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  2. Dinesh Bhugra
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  3. Arthur Guerra de Andrade
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  4. Francisco Lotufo-Neto
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  5. João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia.

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da Silva, R.D., Bhugra, D., de Andrade, A.G. et al. DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder Criteria in “Crazy Heart” (2009)—A Media Content Analysis with Teaching Purposes. Acad Psychiatry 38, 90–95 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-013-0019-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-013-0019-1

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