Films and fiction leading to onset of psycho-phenomenology: Case reports from a tertiary mental health center, India

Abstract

Mind is influenced by socio-cultural religious belief systems, experiences and attributions in the development of psychophenomenology. Film viewing is a common entertainment among young adults.

Objectives

Influence of repetitive watching of films of fiction and horror genres on onset phenomenology in young adults.

Method

Two case reports on onset of psychotic features and mixed anxiety depressive phenomenology were seen in two patients aged 16 and 20 years respectively and based on the fantastic imagination created by films. The 28-year-old female patient diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder had onset at 16 years of age and the course of phenomenology was influenced by the fiction movie ‘Jumanji’ with partial response to medications over 10 years. The depressive and anxiety symptoms of less than 6 months duration of a 20-year-old male patient was influenced by film ‘Hannibal’ and responded to antidepressant and cognitive behavior therapy.

Conclusions

Horror and fiction films can influence the thinking patterns and attribution styles of a young adult by stimulating fantasy thinking which if unrestrained can lead to phenomenology. Viewing films compulsively, obsessive ruminations on horror and fictional themes can lead to onset of psychopathology of both psychosis and neurotic spectrum. Further research on neurobiological, psychological correlates is needed. Parental guidance and restricted viewing of horror genre films with avoidance of repeated stimulatory viewing of same genre movies in children, adolescents, young adults and vulnerable individuals is required.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.