Running head: American Psycho: ocd 1

American Psycho: Patrick Batemans Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Chantel Paré

University of Windsor
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition that typically

manifests in compulsive urges to perform irrational or excessive avoidance behaviors.” (Gillan et

al, 2015). OCD is marked by two defining factors, found in the name itself; ones obsessions

(persistent intrusive unwanted thoughts and/or impulses), and ones compulsions (behaviors or

mental acts, done to reduce distress and/or are perceived to prevent unwanted situations)

[NCCFMH, 2006]. The symptoms of repetitive actions and thoughts experienced by individuals

with OCD, can cause significant distress, and functional impairment (Brock et al, 2024).

“Most studies, but not all, report lower rates of marriage for patients with OCD than

those for the US general population…” (Koran, 2000). Loneliness; a factor in relationship

struggles, is often felt by individuals with emotional adversities- such as OCD (Timpano et al,

2014).

A common treatment for symptoms of OCD is pharmaceutical medications-

specifically SRIs. Unfortunately, patients treated with medication alone for their OCD have been

shown to still present residual symptoms, that impact their daily life (Lack, 2012). Alternatively,

the current preferred treatment for OCD is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). In patients

treated with CBT, they have been found to experience lower rates of relapse in their OCD

symptoms, compared to patients treated only with medications (Lack, 2012).

A study conducted by Wewetzer, C., Jans, T., Müller, B. et al, found that with their

treatments, 82% of the participants had been rated as improved in their symptoms, in a follow-up

after approximately 11 years (Wewetzer et al, 2001). With the proper treatments, individuals

diagnosed with OCD may find significant recovery over time.

American Psycho

American Psycho is a horror/comedy film released in 2000, directed by Mary Harron and

based on the original novel written by Bret Easton Ellis. In the film, the protagonist Patrick

Bateman displays many of the stereotypical attributes a patient with OCD may be expected to

have (i.e. meticulous self-grooming, a need for symmetry, aggression) [Ponzini et al, 2023]. The

opening scene of the film portrays Bateman narrating his morning routine. The man states that he

believes in taking care of himself, yet his unnecessarily particular morning routine goes to

visually exhausting lengths. The display of Bateman’s morning routine and how stubbornly he

clings to it, may lead the audience to suspect that the man may experience an unhealthy amount

of stress, should his routine be altered. Bateman appears to have an obsession with maintaining

and perfecting his image, and the film displays the man experiencing significant distress when

his coworkers challenge his perfection. In an iconic scene from the film, Bateman is shown

conversation with one of his coworker’s- in which Bateman’s internal dialogue displays him

belittling the image of another coworker, Marcus Halberstam, who dresses and styles his hair

very similarly to Bateman- establishing Halberstam as competition, in Bateman’s mind. The

scene later shows Bateman and his coworkers comparing their business cards, as the man shows

a strong sense of anger towards a few of his coworkers, who each have a far more visually

appealing (to the opinion of their fellow coworkers), business card than his own. Bateman is

significantly distressed from this perceived lack in his image, to the point that it becomes

visually apparent to the others.

Despite his stereotypical behavior alluding to OCD, Bateman has one moment in particular

that sets him aside from the stereotype. In the final monologue of the film- spoken internally by

the protagonist, Bateman expresses that his belief of being insane, and evil, is not as true as he
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thought. Bateman goes on to state his realization, that his confession of his perceived crimes has

meant nothing; it has not given him the catharsis he aimed to achieve.

A common maladaptive strategy performed by patients with OCD, is the action of self-

punishment. Self-punishment is often done among patients with OCD as a method of combatting

unwanted thoughts- specifically ones they deem to hold significance, for the desired result of

relief from the distress caused by having these thoughts (Jacoby et al, 2016).

In the ending scene of American Psycho, Patrick Bateman perceives himself confessing his

supposed crimes, to one of his coworkers. Despite his confession, serving as his attempt at self-

punishment, nothing comes of it. Bateman does not receive the catharsis; the relief of his

distress, from this confession.

A study conducted by Heide Klumpp, Nader Amir, and Sarah N. Garfinkel, found that

participants with OCD were more prone to false memories than participants without (Klumpp et

al, 2013).

Alongside Patrick Bateman’s examples of self-punishment and undesired thoughts, Bateman is

also shown to experience false memories. In the final scene, it is revealed to Bateman that the

coworker he had perceived himself killing, is alive. This scene brings about the implication that

most, if not all, of Bateman’s crimes portrayed in the film did not actually occur, in the world of

the film. This realization implies that the crimes portrayed may have been, in Patrick Bateman’s

reality, either hallucinations or persistent intrusive thoughts, which he misinterpreted as real

events

Patrick Bateman
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Given the title of the film, it is unclear whether the movie intended to portray Bateman as

having OCD. However, it’s worth noting that Bateman does not entirely meet the diagnostic

requirements of psychopathy, contrary to what the title of the film may suggest (Parry, 2009).

Bateman’s symptoms of OCD are apparent, especially in his excessive visible distress when

his obsession; self image, is challenged. It can be assumed by these symptoms, that while

Bateman does display additional symptoms of disorders such as Psychopathy, Narcissistic

Personality Disorder, and Psychosis, these disorders are not mutually exclusive of OCD (Parry,

2009).

Conclusion

From a narrative standpoint, Patrick Bateman having OCD alongside his symptoms of other

disorders makes sense; the term “psycho” is often used in pop culture as a method of generally

referring to a character as insane- rather than specifically claiming the character is symptomatic

of Psychopathy. Patrick Bateman appears to signify an externally perfect American business

man, with an internal self that is nearly the complete opposite. Bateman having OCD alongside

other potential disorders, would be an intriguing narrative method of taking transforming the

ideals of perfection into a mental burden, rather than the simple desire for self-improvement.
American Psycho: ocd 6

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