Histrionic Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following...

Criterion 1

is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention

Attention is like

a drug

Thoughts and behaviors depend on

attention

With attention can

readily interact with others and esteem is bolstered

Without attention

feels subpar and scrambles to redirect all interest back to her

Over time, they often become very adept at eliciting attention by

exhibiting interesting and attractive behaviors

Criterion 2

interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior

– Most strategies used to attract and keep attention are seductive or sexually provocative

– In case example, these behaviors

• Contribute to her success as an exotic dancer and not considered pathological in this environment

• Inappropriate and ill-suited outside of work

Criterion 3

displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions

– Tendency to hyper-emotionalize

– Exhibits an ever-changing stream of consciousness

• Leads to sequences of uncensored emotional expressions

Criterion 4

consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self

– This can include gestures, speech, and dress

– Can be either overt or covert

• Case example’s job as an exotic dancer can be seen as an exaggeration of this characteristic

– Goal is to look flashier, sexier, and more colorful than everyone else

• These are the qualities that she believes will win friends and influence people

Criterion5

has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail

– Often seem too concerned with their own universe

• Personal experiences are embellished

– Speech

• Often talk freely

• Conversations tends to avoid serious matters, causing words to lack detail and substance

Criterion 6

shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion

– Apparently rapid and overplayed emotional shifts

• Others left to wonder

– Whether feelings are genuine

– What conflicts and insecurities may lie underneath the actual drama

Criterion 7

is suggestible, i.e., easily influenced by others or circumstances

– Attention is the goal

• As a result, behaviors are dependent on the level of attention that is given at any moment

Criterion 8

considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are

– Individuals often confuse attraction and intimacy

• Many interactions are as superficial as the dramatizations that the histrionic creates

– Also exists a decreased interest in details and an increased interest in headlines

• Often times, a boredom results from this lack of substance

– Includes the lack of substance in the patient and in their relationships