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Amanda Pun
English 113`
Professor Lacey
13 March 2015
Greys Anatomy: Shining Light on the Suffering of Surgeons
In general, others perceive doctors as invulnerable because of their roles as healers.
Despite their healing roles, doctors are not impervious to diseases or disorders and may suffer
just as their patients do. Diseases and disorders are different, but both lead to a deviation from
the normal state of health. A disease has a characteristic set of signs and symptoms in which the
pathology is known; in contrast, a disorder is a group of symptoms that signifies functional
abnormalities but no underlying pathology (Heiby). In the television show Greys Anatomy, a
variety of medical diseases and disorders are presented realistically in different surgeons, thus
giving viewers an insight into the lives of suffering patients.
According to Rebecca Frey, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder
that may occur when a person experiences or witnesses an event perceived as a threat and in
which he or she experiences fear, terror, or helplessness. These traumatic events may be due to
natural events (ex. natural disasters) or manmade events (ex. shootings). Betty Pfefferbaum states
that the symptoms of PTSD are grouped into three clusters: persistent re-experiencing of the
traumatic event, persistent avoidance of reminders, and persistent symptoms of increased
arousal. Event re-experiences occur as flashbacks, traumatic daydreams, or nightmares; these
memories are triggered by stimuli that remind the patient of the traumatic event and are
wordless, meaning they only contain images and sensations (Frey). For someone to be diagnosed
with PTSD, the symptoms must last for at least one month. Symptoms may develop within three

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months of exposure to the traumatic event. PTSD symptoms tend to be evident at home, work,
or school and in interpersonal relationships (Pfefferbaum).
PTSD not only affects those diagnosed with this disorder, but also those that surround
these patients, including co-workers, friends, and family. PTSD causes patients to suffer from
significant social, interpersonal, or work-related problems. These social problems include
feelings of disconnection, even from loved ones. (Frey).
Although PTSD affects many characters in Greys Anatomy throughout the seasons, the
character that depicts PTSD to the greatest extent is Owen Hunt. Owen Hunt, a trauma surgeon
who joins the hospital staff after returning from war in Iraq, suffers from severe PTSD. Owens
re-experiencing of his traumatic events occurs as flashbacks and nightmares -- the television
show depicts these re-experiences accurately since they contain no words and are triggered by a
stimulus (Owens stimuli include the rotating ceiling fan and the propellers of helicopters). These
re-experiences cause Owen an immense amount of distress, provoking him to react violently
physically, not just mentally. Owens nervous system is constantly aroused and he tries to combat
this by distracting himself with work. But even so, his hyperarousal causes him to be easily
irritated and startled, making work difficult; there are many instances where Owens increased
irritability leads to panic attacks at work.
While Owen Hunt does present PTSD symptoms at work, his most prominent
representations of PTSD occur in the presence of his significant other, Cristina Yang. When
Owen is aware and conscious of his actions, he is loving and caring towards Cristina. In contrast,
when he has no control over his actions, like during nightmares, he becomes violent. Owen
wakes up one night to find that he is choking Cristina after having a nightmare; his disgust
towards himself after realizing what he did solidifies the idea that he is not in control of his
behavior at times due to this disorder. Owens constant state of hyperarousal and emotional

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fragility poses problems for his relationship with Cristina because he fears for her safety. Despite
this, Owens symptoms of avoidance cause him to refrain from talking about his trauma. Owen
and Cristina seek help from a therapist who urges Owen to speak to Cristina about his traumas.
Yet, he is still reluctant to think about his traumas.
Altogether, Owen's representation of PTSD is realistic and demonstrates all the
symptoms stated by Frey and Pfefferbaum. Grey's Anatomy illustrates PTSD to its entire extent
and makes viewers aware that while Owen is suffering from the disorder, he is causing his loved
ones to suffer as well. The show also portrays how PTSD affects someone's entire life through
Owen's difficulties with personal relationships and work.
Another medical disorder presented in Greys Anatomy is phantom limb syndrome.
Phantom limb refers to the abnormal sensations perceived from a previously amputated limb
(Lin and Cataldo 849). These sensations are thought to be caused by the reorganization of the
central and peripheral nervous system. The brain alters its connections or functioning in response
to changes, such as everyday learning or injury. According to L. Fallon, symptoms may present
immediately after amputation, or months to years after. Sensations emanate from the absent limb,
and in certain cases, the limb may still feel intact. These sensations can be both painful and nonpainful. Painful symptoms include burning, throbbing, or stabbing in nature (Lin and Cataldo
849). Non-painful symptoms include temperature changes, itching, tingling, shock-like
sensations, or perceived motion of the phantom limb (Lin and Cataldo 849). Furthermore,
patients may experience changes in pain and most of the painful symptoms resolve on their own;
however, some patients experience chronic pain (Rugnetta). While there are no cures for
phantom limb, there are different techniques used to help relieve the pain, which include
biofeedback and mirror box therapy.

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To illustrate this disorder in Greys Anatomy, phantom limb syndrome consumes Dr.
Arizona Robbins after a terrible plane accident in the woods at the end of season eight. This
accident leaves her with a severe broken leg and no other options except for amputation. Despite
her doctors best efforts to preserve her leg, Arizonas leg had become infected and without
amputation, she would not have survived. Arizona does not appear to have any symptoms of
phantom limb syndrome until months after the plane crash. As stated by Rugnetta, the pain
Arizona experiences does not remain constant. At one point, Arizonas symptoms used to be
present at night only; pain in her nonexistent leg was accompanied by nightmares of re-injuring
her leg. In one dream, Arizona is running through the park and stops at the hospital only to find
her leg shattering. In another dream, the pain in Arizonas leg is so excruciating that she takes a
scalpel and begins to cut off her own leg. Arizona wakes up after her nightmares and looks at her
leg, acknowledging that she no longer has it anymore and the pain is nonexistent. In episode
twelve of season nine, Arizona begins to experience pain at work. Arizona is in surgery the first
time she displays painful symptoms of phantom limb at work. Consequently, she leaves the
surgery because the pain is too unbearable.
After this incident, Dr. Owen Hunt (who has experience with phantom limb syndrome
patients) attempts to relieve Arizonas pain with biofeedback. Biofeedback is used to help
patients control their body functions. It helps patients focus on making subtle changes in [their]
body in order to achieve certain results like reducing pain (Mayo Clinic Staff). This process
includes attaching electrodes to the patients skin, which send signals to a monitor that displays
different bodily functions that react under stress. Because these functions are displayed,
biofeedback sessions allow for immediate feedback as patients attempt to reduce stress responses
("Phantom Limb Pain"). Owen presents a picture of a beach to Arizona to relax her. While she
rejects the idea at first, she eventually is able to soothe her pain.

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Another form of treatment Owen introduces to Arizona is mirror box therapy. The
technique requires a patient to sit with a mirror facing the remaining leg so that it appears that
there are both legs present (Helm). Mirror therapy helps trick the patients brain out of pain.
Arizona finds comfort in this technique, and continues to use it at home during her night pains.
Additionally, Owen tells Arizona that one of his comrades in Iraq found that the only way
to relieve his pain was to have someone stab his prosthetic leg. During Arizonas second pain
incident at work, she asks one of her colleagues to stab her prosthetic with a scalpel. Immediately
after she is stabbed, a wave of relief overcomes her. While this form of treatment does not appear
to be widely practiced, the idea of it is clear: it makes patients realize that there cannot be pain in
the absent limb.
Furthermore, the depiction of phantom limb syndrome in Greys Anatomy is realistic,
from the symptoms Arizona experiences to the different treatments she tries. The only aspect of
Arizonas phantom limb syndrome that research does not support is the form of treatment
involving having someone injure her prosthetic leg. Nevertheless, the reasons behind this
treatment are still realistic and relate to the reasons why other forms of treatment are successful
in some cases. The show demonstrates how phantom limb interferes with Arizona's work by
causing her to leave surgeries and disrupt surgeries in process. Thus, phantom limb consumes
Arizona's life, affects her colleagues' lives, and to a certain extent, her patients' lives.
While those disorders appear in the show later on, a more prominent disease that lasts
throughout the majority of the seasons captured viewers since season one: Alzheimers disease.
Alzheimers is an irreversible and incurable progressive neurological disease; it is
characterized by the degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain, causing brain size to
decrease (Alzheimers Disease). The exact cause is unknown, but is likely to be caused by
genetic and environmental factors (Alzheimers Disease).

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Alzheimers symptoms are grouped into three categories: cognitive deficits, behavior and
psychiatric symptoms of dementia, and difficulties with daily life (Alzheimers Disease).
Major cognitive deficits include amnesia (memory impairment), agnosia (inability to recognize
familiar people and places), and speaking difficulties. Speaking difficulties include stopping in
the middle of a conversation and struggling to find the correct words to say (Lunde). Behavior
and psychiatric symptoms include depression, wandering, and aggression. Lastly, issues with
eating, shopping, and showering are symptoms of difficulties with daily life. Alzheimers disease
is considered insidious since it begins slowly; some people are unaware of any impairment,
and since Alzheimers typically affects seniors, patients tend to blame their forgetfulness on old
age (Alzheimers Disease). These symptoms may not be consistent -- Alzheimers patients
may experience moments of lucidity and rapid changes in mood (ex. being calm one moment and
irate the next) (Boerner). There are no cures for Alzheimers, but there are treatments such as
counseling, emotional and social support, and drugs that help with symptoms (Alzheimers
Disease).
Alzheimers disease affects Dr. Ellis Grey, whom is diagnosed before the show aired, so
viewers do not have the opportunity to witness her early symptoms of Alzheimers. Ellis was a
renowned surgeon; however, after being diagnosed with Alzheimers, she left work and her
daughter, Meredith Grey, sent her to a nursing home. In Elliss first appearance, Meredith visits
her at the nursing home and talks about her first day at work. Ellis does not recognize Meredith
and asks who she is and if she is the doctor. Meredith says, Im your daughter, and Im not the
doctor, but I am a doctor. This triggers Ellis, with a vacant look on her face, to respond, I think
I may have been a doctor in the past. This first scene effectively introduces Elliss cognitive
deficiency, allowing viewers to recognize that Ellis is not mentally there.

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Elliss symptoms visibly progress throughout the seasons up until her death. The most
salient symptoms are her cognitive deficit and behavior/psychiatric symptoms. Ellis experiences
extreme mood swings, especially those in which she is calm and suddenly becomes irate. In
episode three of season two, Ellis is brought to the hospital, strapped onto a gurney to prevent
her from physically harming others. She begins yelling at doctors and becomes even more
aggressive when she sees Meredith (she and Meredith do not have a good relationship). After
being put into a hospital room, Ellis forgets that many years have passed since she was a doctor
and continuously leaves her hospital bed because she believes she has surgeries to complete.
Eventually, while she is in an operating room, she realizes she is not supposed to be in there and
allows a doctor to take her back to her room. Ellis experiences several moments of lucidness, but
as her illness progresses, these moments occur less frequently. She also experiences issues with
speech and vocabulary. For instance, when Elliss doctor returns with the biopsy information on
a tumor in her liver, Ellis asks him, Is it algebra? two times before she accurately asks, Is it
benign?. These cognitive deficit and behavior/psychiatric symptoms are displayed consistently
throughout Elliss scenes.
In addition, Elliss cognitive deficits are the most severe around her former lover, Richard
Webber, and Dr. George OMalley, an intern who resembles her former husband. Ellis forgets
that she and Richard are no longer together and treats him as if he were still her significant other.
There are no moments of lucidity when she is with Richard -- it is apparent that she still has the
same perception towards him that she used to when they dated. Ellis constantly shows deep
affection towards him while displaying hostility towards everyone else. Richard struggles to tell
Ellis that he is no longer her significant other, but because Ellis's cognitive function is impaired,
she cannot grasp the reality she lives in. Richard eventually follows along with Ellis's behavior
and responds to her with affection, acting as if he is her romantic partner. In addition, Ellis

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believes she is still married to her ex-husband and argues with George the way she used to argue
with her husband. She displays the greatest aggression towards him and experiences the most
mood swings in his presence. Since George is an inexperienced intern, Ellis's behavior shocks
him and he fails at soothing her symptoms. However, after watching Richard comply with Ellis's
false reality, George does the same, ultimately appeasing Ellis. Her actions around Richard and
George depict the extent of her Alzheimers most prominently because Elliss reality is clearly
set back a few years.
Overall, Greys Anatomys illustration of Alzheimers disease is true to real-life
circumstances. The show illustrates that Elliss disease not only affects her, but also the people
who must cope with her. The show demonstrates the difficulty of handling someone who is not
mentally there and believes she is in a different time period. Ellis's representation of Alzheimer's
lacks symptoms of difficulties with daily life, but those are not necessary to characterize
Alzheimer's in the show. In all, Ellis's cognitive defects are sufficient for viewers to understand
that she is affected with Alzheimer's.
Greys Anatomy conveys different diseases and disorders accurately in its main
characters, which allows viewers to see the harshness and difficulty of handling troubles that are
beyond each patients control. Since research supports each representation of the diseases and
disorders, the directors of Grey's Anatomy were not amplifying the signs and symptoms for
dramatic effect. With each disease and disorder, Grey's Anatomy reinforces the idea that the
patients are not the only ones suffering. Their pain affects their personal relationships as well as
their work. The difficulties each patient encounters brings light to the severity of his/her disease
or disorder. Grey's Anatomy brings to viewers' attentions that although surgeons are trying to
save their own patients' lives, they too can be patients; this idea is important because doctors in

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general are perceived as invulnerable most of the time. Grey's Anatomy enforces that doctors,
like anyone else, are susceptible to illness despite their job of healing patients.

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Works Cited
"Alzheimers Disease." The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian and
Jeffrey Wilson. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
Boerner, Heather. "Moments of Lucidity." Monitor on Psychology 39.10 (2008): n. pag.
American Psychological Association. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.
Fallon, L. Fleming. "Traumatic Amputations." The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied
Health. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Gale Virtual
Reference Library. Web. 16 Feb 2015.
Frey, Rebecca J. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed.
Laurie J. Fundukian. 4th ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 3507-3513. Gale Virtual
Reference Library. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
Heiby, Elaine M. "DSM-IV: Symptom, Syndrome, Disorder, Disease."University of Hawaii at
Manoa. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
Helm, Standiford, II. "Phantom Limb Pain: Mirror Therapy Treatment." MedicineNet.
MedicineNet, 1 Dec. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
Lin, Peter T., and Laura Jean Cataldo. "Phantom Limb." The Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological
Disorders. Ed. Brigham Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Gale Virtual
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Lunde, Angela. "Alzheimer's Disease." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
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Mayo Clinic Staff. "Phantom Pain." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
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Pfefferbaum, Betty. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." International Encyclopedia of

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Marriage and Family. Ed. James J. Ponzetti. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. New York: Macmillan
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"Phantom Limb Pain." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
Rugnetta, Michael. "Phantom Limb Syndrome." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia
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