Horror films have been popular for generations. The purpose of this article is to illustrate psychiatric conditions, themes and practice seen in horror films.
Conclusions:
Horror films often either include psychiatrists as characters or depict (Hollywood’s dangerous version of) serious mental illness. Demonic possession, zombies, and ‘slasher’ killers are described, as well as the horror genre’s characterizations of psychiatrists.
TobiaADraschilTSportelliD. The Horror: a creative framework for teaching psychopathology via metaphorical analyses of horror films. Acad Psychiatry2013; 37: 131–136.
2.
FriedmanSHCernyCAWestS. Reel forensic experts: forensic psychiatrists as portrayed on screen. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law2011; 39: 412–417.
3.
CernyCAFriedmanSHSmithD. Television’s crazy lady trope: Female psychopathic traits, teaching, and the influence of popular culture. Acad Psychiatry2014; 38: 1–9.
4.
TurleyJMDerdeynAP. Use of a horror film in psychotherapy. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry1990; 29: 942–945.
5.
SchneiderI. The theory and practice of movie psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry1987; 144: 996–1002.
6.
FriedmanSHCernyCA. From Hannibal Lecter to Alex Cross: Forensic mental health experts in popular fiction. Acad Psychiatry2013; 37: 345–351.
7.
McDonaldAWalterG. The portrayal of ECT in American movies. J ECT2001; 17: 264–274.
8.
FriedmanSHHowieA. Salem witchcraft and lessons for contemporary forensic psychiatry. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law2013; 41: 294–299.
9.
TrethowanWH. Exorcism: A psychiatric viewpoint. J Med Ethics1976; 2: 127–137.
10.
MetrauxA. Voodoo in Haiti. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1959.
11.
SchlozmanS. The Zombie Autopsies. New York: Hachette Book group, 2011.