Histrionic personality disorders - summary of chapter 7 of Personality disorders

Personality disorders
Chapter 7
(part of) The narcissistic and histrionic personality disorders

Histrionic personality disorder

Histrionic personality disorder and gender

Histrionic PD is a predominantly female disorder.

Histrionic personality disorder as seen through assessment instruments

People with histrionic PD have an elevation on a mania scale, ad a lower score on social introversion. These findings are characteristic of more energetic, expansive individuals who are not bothered by uneasiness or shyness in social situations.

Histrionic PD is characterized by a lower trait level of altruism, and on the facet level, elevated scores on gregariousness, feelings, warmth, and tendermindedness. This suggests and emotionally expressive, outgoing person who is also self-centred and rather superficially engaged in relationships.

Treatment issues

The course and prognosis of histrionic PD will largely depend on its severity and comorbidity. More extreme versions will be harder to treat. When concurrent features of antisocial PD and narcissistic PD are present, treatment gains will be harder to achieve.