Histrionic Personality Disorder

People with Histrionic Personality Disorder do not limit their seduction to people with whom they have romantic interest, but it extends to a variety of social, occupational and professional relationships beyond what is appropriate for the social context.10

Personality disorders are included as mental disorders on Axis II of the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association and in the mental and behavioral disorders section of the ICD manual of the World Health Organization Personality disorders are conditions in which an individual differs significantly from an average person, in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others. Changes in how a person feels and distorted beliefs about other people can lead to odd behavior, which can be distressing and may upset others There are three recognized personality disorder clusters, cluster A odd and eccentric, Paranoid Personality Disorder Schizoid Personality Disorder Schizotypal Personality Disorder dramatic and emotional, Borderline Personality Disorder Histrionic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder and anxious and fearful Avoidant Personality Disorder Dependent Personality Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Personality Disorders: Management

Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). However, as with any hypothesis for what shapes personality, antisocial PD is believed to be rooted in nature – genetics – and nurturing – environmental factors. A child could even be born with a gene linked to antisocial PD and it would not become prevalent unless a traumatic experience occurs in their life (Mayo Clinic, 2013).

A personality disorder is characterized by a distinct pattern of behavior that does not meet normal standards of behavior within one’s culture. This pattern is ingrained as the norm to the person affected, and the characteristics of the affected person deviate markedly from societal standards (Hebblethwaite, 2009). The two main features that help to identify a personality disorder are chronic interpersonal difficulties and persons with one’s identity or sense of self (Livesly, 2001). Within this set of mental health disorders lie several other subsets, including one of the most prominent personality disorders - Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a severe, long-lasting disorder that has an incidence of occurrence approximately equal to that of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia combined (Grant, Chou, Goldstein et al., 2008). BPD also puts those affected at risk for damage in many areas of their life if not properly diagnosed and treated, including personal relationships, school, work, and self-imagine. Furthermore, this disorder has a high co-morbidity with other disorders such as depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and social phobia, among many more (Hebblethwaite, 2009). Misdiagnosis of borderline personality disorder can have serious clinical implications. This paper looks to identify the risk factors associated with BPD, the affects on various aspects of the person’s life, treatments, and give recommendations as to how to properly identify and

On October 25, 1994, Susan Smith drowned her two sons, Michael and Alex, in the John D. Long Lake in Union County, South Carolina. For nine days she lied about knowing where the boys were. On November 3, she confessed to the killings and would soon go to trial.

We’ve all experienced the feeling that we’ve moved into a different life, dissociation from reality, just mild like when we daydream, delve into a good book or become engrossed with a project. But then after that, we do still come back to reality. However, some people are diagnosed with a dissociative identity disorder or the popular multiple personality disorder (MPD). This differ from mild dissociation that all of us commonly experience. People who have this live a fairly complicated life. Sadly, people who have this experience traumatic physical, sexual or emotional abuse during their childhood.

Histrionic personality disorder, which is a part of cluster B of personality disorders, is classified by an extreme desire for attention. In order for a person to be diagnosed with it, they must exhibit at least 5 of the symptoms in DSM-5, which include awkward social encounters, shallow expression of emotions, talking in a way that lacks details, theatrical acts, and finding relationships more intimate that they actually are (Kupfer & Skodol 667). Personality disorders as a whole are characterized by lasting behaviors that inhibit normal social functioning (Myers 596). Histrionic personality disorder specifically however is the one where people need to get attention. They make all their relationships about themselves and look to have social events focus on them more than others. While it can seem that many people have it, especially since it is sometimes referred to as the “teenage girl syndrome”, it is only seen in about 1.84% of people (Kupfer & Skodol 668). This disorder is commonly treated through cognitive-behavioral therapy which aims to change people's negative thoughts as well as behaviors. For people with histrionic personality disorder, understanding why they think the way they do as well as learning coping mechanisms can help their alter their behaviors that were formerly socially

One of such personality disorders that Zailckas seems to exhibit signs of is histrionic personality disorder. As Dr. Hyde described in lecture, those with histrionic personality disorder gravitate towards the center of attention and engage in attention-seeking behaviors that gratify him or her (Hyde 2017a). In Zailckas’s case, she learned at a young age

The three main clusters of personality disorders are odd and eccentric behavior, dramatic, emotional or erratic behavior, and anxious and fearful behavior. Cluster A, Odd and eccentric behavior are personality disorders characterized by social awkwardness and social withdrawal. These disorders show a stable pattern of remarkably unusual behavior and are commonly characterized by distorted thinking. An example is Paranoid Personality Disorder which is characterized by a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of other people. Next cluster B is dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors and these disorders are characterized by shared problems with impulse control and emotional regulation. An example is Antisocial Personality Disorder which is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of other people that often manifests as hostility and/or aggression. Lastly, Cluster C is anxious and fearful behavior and these personality disorders are share a high level of anxiety and represent range of symptoms for abnormal manifestations of apprehensiveness, timid, or frightened behavior. An example is Avoidant Personality Disorder which is characterized by a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and a hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. People with this disorder are intensely afraid that others will ridicule them, reject them, or criticize them.

History is full of tales of famous criminals, with the most brutal committing mass murder, both political and domestic. However, what is now called 'serial ' killing is something different. While there are those who hurt people or murder for profit or motive, serials killers murder for neither; their murders are rage based and usually filled with no remorse. The most entertaining and engrossing stories are usually the ones portrayed on television shows and movies. Though sadly they are entertainment for some, they are reality for others. The person or people committing these murders have a deeper mental issue, usually one that would be diagnosed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) as a Personality

Side note: On https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_disorder_not_otherwise_specified the author of this paper altered this webpage to reflect the current DSM-5.

of developing borderline personality disorder. Along with this belief is that genetics play a very little role of risk of development but it is mostly due to the type of environment that the child grew up in.

Today, the histrionic personality can be thought of as ranging from acceptable, mildly dramatic behavior, to unhealthy, potentially risky behaviors or characteristics. Individuals who display a few histrionic characteristics but function in generally healthy interactions with others are characterized as having a Histrionic Personality Style. Individuals who exhibit serious dysfunctional characteristics are clinically diagnosed as having Histrionic Personality Disorder.” Although there is no distinct cause to HPD, there might factors that aid a person to behave in such manner. These factors are most likely to develop from childhood, environment, and or social factors. Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder usually develop from the ages of the late-teens to early 20s, and its most emotional rollercoaster peak is during the mid 40s to late 50s. According to Bressert (2014) “Treatment of histrionic personality disorder typically involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder. Medications may also be prescribed to help with specific troubling and debilitating symptoms.” There is more information about seeking help and treatment through the use of online resources and support groups for Histrionic Personality

Some scientists believe it is genetics, while others think it is environment or how they child was raised. They cause is most likely a complex combination of most factors. There is evidence to point to both reasons being the cause. The disorder is more common in males than in females, which suggests the cause has to do with genetics. Another genetic reason is that children with parents that have the disorder are much more likely to get Antisocial Personality Disorder. Although the disease has some traits that lead people to think it is a genetic disorder, it also has many environmental factors. Children with alcoholic or abusive parents are much more likely to have Antisocial Personality Disorder, than children with normal parents. It also is a lot more common in people who are in prison or other correctional facilities (American Psychiatric Association,

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. A personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from the norm of the individual’s culture. The pattern is seen in two or more of the following areas: cognition; affect; interpersonal functioning; or impulse control. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations. A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency,