Running head: FELIX UNGAR CASE ANALYSIS 1

Case Analysis of Felix Ungar from The Odd Couple

Everett Lamb

May 12, 2010

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

PSYC 4325

FELIX UNGAR CASE ANALYSIS 2

Case Analysis of Felix Ungar from The Odd Couple

As my case analysis I have chosen the character of Felix Ungar from the 1968 film The

Odd Couple. Mr. Ungar has several psychological issues which need to be addressed. The focus

of this case study is to analyze these problems using the client’s biopsychosocial history, offer a

diagnosis based upon available information, and offer a treatment recommendation based upon

the evidence provided in the film.

Background

Felix Unger is a middle-aged television news writer living in New York City. Mr. Ungar

has recently been asked to leave his house by his wife, Frances, who has filed for a divorce. Mr.

Ungar has two children with his estranged wife. He has been asked to share an apartment in

Manhattan with his best friend, Oscar Madison, a sports writer for the New York Herald who is

also currently going through a divorce.

Outside of Oscar, Felix has several friends with whom he plays poker on a regular basis.

These include Murray, a police officer; Speed; Roy; and Vinnie. Although Felix is high-strung,

his friends are accepting of him and care for him deeply, as evidenced by their search for Felix

after he and Oscar have an argument and Felix plans to move out of the apartment.

Description of Presenting Problem

Felix Ungar has a history of neurotic and obsessive behaviors. He exhibits a

preoccupation with cleanliness, as observed by his constant cleaning of the apartment he shares

with his roommate, Oscar. He remains fixated on his estranged wife, Frances and refuses to relax

his uptight nature enough to gain any enjoyment from life. The stress created from his imminent

divorce only seems to add to his obsession with hygiene, cleanliness, and health. Mr. Ungar also

FELIX UNGAR CASE ANALYSIS 3

shows obvious signs of being a hypochondriac. He always has medications and vitamins readily

available, and when he suffers a sinus attack in a coffee shop, he is overly dramatic, making

obnoxious noises and obsessing over the situation. He shows a propensity for being

hypersensitive to rejection, as observed by his failure to move on from his failed marriage, as

well as his inability to take criticism from his roommate and friend, Oscar. Felix also appears to

have attachment issues with not only his estranged wife, but also with Oscar. This is observed

when Felix calls Oscar at work to ask what he would like to eat for dinner, which causes Oscar to

miss a triple play, thereby interfering with Oscar’s work as a sports writer. The self-centered

nature of Felix’s obsessions is further supported by Felix’s constant berating of Oscar’s hygiene

and slovenliness.

Diagnostic Issues

Mr. Ungar meets the requirements for the Axis I condition of a Major Depressive

Episode (MDE). He has shown a depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated

by subjective reports or observation made by others. He shows a markedly diminished interest or

pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day. Felix also shows

psychomotor agitation, as evidenced in his pacing. Mr. Ungar also demonstrates feelings of

worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day. Felix also has shown signs of

suicidal ideation and has attempted suicide since his wife left him by attempting to jump out of a

window. None of these attempts have been serious enough to require medical attention. Felix

Ungar does not appear to be suffering from any other particular clinical syndromes requiring

clinical attention as defined in Axis I of the DSM-IV.

Felix does meet the requirements for the Axis II condition of Obsessive-Compulsive

Personality Disorder (OCPD). Felix shows a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness,

FELIX UNGAR CASE ANALYSIS 4

perfectionism, and mental and impersonal control. This is indicated by his preoccupation with

details, rules, order, and schedules to the extent that the major point of an activity is lost. He also

exhibits extreme perfectionism and has difficulty relaxing or doing anything just for fun. Felix

displays a reluctance to delegate tasks or work with others unless others do the exact same things

that Felix does. Also Felix displays a rigidity and stubbornness. He does not display any

compulsive rituals which cause anxiety or distress, which is why Felix does not fit with the

criteria for Axis I obsessive-compulsive disorder. Instead Felix’s life is characterized by

contentiousness, rigidity, and perfectionism; however this all exists absent from the presence of

true obsessions and compulsive rituals. Felix also shows difficulties in interpersonal relationships

due to his obsessive nature and difficulty expressing emotions

Felix Ungar has what may be acute sinusitis. Sinusitis is typified by facial pain/pressure,

nasal obstruction, thick and colored nasal discharge of a yellowish or greenish hue, diminished

sense of smell, cough not due to asthma, fever, sneezing fits, bad breath, fatigue, and ache in

upper teeth. This type of sinusitis occurs when one has several separate attacks during the year.

The attacks are usually caused by an allergic reaction to varying weather conditions, animal hair,

dust mites, mold, pollen, and other allergens. I believe that the sinus attack Felix complained of

in the coffee shop may have been caused by sinusitis..

Mr. Ungar is experiencing many Axis IV psychosocial and environmental problems. He

is experiencing problems with primary support group, since the disruption of his family due to a

divorce may have contributed to his disorder. He is unable to see his wife and children and is

assumed to have economic problems due to paying alimony and child support, which is one of

the reasons that he agrees to become roommates with Oscar Madison.

FELIX UNGAR CASE ANALYSIS 5

The Axis V global assessment of functioning would place Felix Ungar around the 65-55

range. Felix shows mild to moderate symptoms of OCPD and MDE. He also displays mild to

moderate difficulty in social functioning. He does appear to be able to function generally well

and has some meaningful interpersonal relationships, as observed by the friends he plays poker

with.

Treatment Recommendations

In creating a treatment plan for Felix Ungar, I would want to assure that the causal

aspects of his major depressive episode be addressed first, in order to see if this might lessen

some of the stressors in Felix’s life. By alleviating some of these stressors, some of the

symptoms of Felix’s OCPD might also diminish. I would highly recommend that Felix attend

personal counseling with a licensed therapist in order to begin processing some of the issues

resulting from his recent divorce. I would also recommend that he attend a support group for

those going through divorce or separation. I would also recommend that if depressive symptoms

persist, Felix would see a doctor to discuss the possibility of taking anti-depressants. There is

also the issue of the co-morbidity of Major Depressive Episode and OCPD, an Axis I and Axis II

disorder respectively. Those suffering from both Axis I and Axis II disorders have a lower

success rate in the treatment of their Axis I disorders than those without a coexisting personality

disorder, and the therapist should be aware of this. I would consider integrating therapies to treat

the MRE and OCPD simultaneously.

Given the difficulties of treating personality disorders there are many treatment

recommendations that could be applied to treat Felix’s OCPD, but as with any therapy there is no

guarantee of success. The fact that OCPD is a Cluster C disorder offers us some hope, since

FELIX UNGAR CASE ANALYSIS 6

those from Cluster C are less likely to experience the general difficulties in forming and

maintaining good relationships with the therapist.

In the case of Felix, I would recommend short-term psychotherapy focused of symptom

alleviation. The therapy would focus on Felix’s current support system and coping skills. The

skills which are not currently working could be reinforced with different coping skills. I also

would suggest that the therapist focus on examining relationships and reinforcing strong, positive

relationships while having the client re-examine negative or harmful relationships. I would also

try and have Felix examine and identify his feelings, rather than intellectualizing or distancing

himself from his emotions. This could possibly include homework such as writing feelings down

in a journal. By focusing on his feelings, it may force Felix to become removed from the

analytical processes that drive him.

Attempting to assist a fictional character is difficult. The process becomes especially

difficult because the assessor is unable to ask the client specific questions that could be helpful in

creating an accurate diagnosis. I feel that I have created an analysis that is as complete as

possible, based upon the evidence. I truly believe that the treatment suggestions set forth in this

paper would help Felix, and I hope you do too.