What does Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) has to do with Depp-Heard Case?
On 29 April 2022, a psychological phrase Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) has entered the public vernacular as a result of all the attention this month focused on actor Johnny Depp’s $50 million lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp claims that an op-ed Heard authored in 2018 harmed his career, and he has filed a defamation lawsuit against her popular in media as Depp-Heard Case.
Shannon Curry, PsyD, a clinical and forensic psychologist in California and Hawaii, who conducted a psychological evaluation of Heard and testified that she met with him for 12 hours, used the word in court.
Curry testified that Heard suffers from both Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorder. Heard has revealed that she suffers from PTSD.
What does it mean to have a Histrionic Personality Disorder?
People with Histrionic Personality Disorder have self-esteem that is focused on the approval of others rather than a real sense of self-worth. They have a great desire to be noticed and may frequently act out in flamboyant or inappropriate ways in order to achieve this.
People who suffer from histrionic personality disorder are frequently unaware that their actions and beliefs are harmful.
Histrionic Personality Disorder is one of the “Cluster B” personality disorders, which are marked by erratic and dramatic behavior.
Histrionic personality disorder affects who?
Late adolescent or early adulthood are the most prevalent onset years for histrionic personality disorder.
Those assigned female at birth (AFAB) are more likely to be diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder than people assigned male at birth (AMAB), although researchers feel that people AMAB may be underdiagnosed.
What percentage of people suffer from histrionic personality disorder?
Histrionic personality disorder is a personality disorder that is rather uncommon. According to researchers, the sickness affects about 1% of the population.
What are the symptoms and signs of HPD?
The presentation of exaggerated, superficial emotionality and sexuality in order to gain attention is a symptom of histrionic personality disorder.
The following are some of the actions that a person with histrionic personality disorder might engage in:
· If they aren’t the focus of attention, they may feel unappreciated or depressed.
· Feelings that are ephemeral and come and go quickly.
· Be passionate and emotionally expressive to the point of shame in front of friends and family.
· Have a presence that is “larger-than-life.”
· Maintain a flirtatious and charming demeanor.
· Get too caught up in their appearance
They dress in brightly colored or revealing apparel to bring attention to their physical attributes.
· They act sexually inappropriately with the majority of people they meet, even if they aren’t sexually attracted to them.
· They speak with passion and eloquence, yet their arguments are lacking in facts and specificity.
· Be trusting and easily swayed by people, particularly those they admire.
· They believe their interpersonal interactions are stronger than they are.
· They have a hard time maintaining relationships, and their interactions with others can come across as forced or shallow at times.
· They are easily bored or frustrated and have a strong desire for immediate pleasure.
· Seek reassurance or approbation on a regular basis.
What factors contribute to histrionic personality disorder?
Histrionic personality disorder, for example, is one of the most misunderstood mental conditions.
In investigations on histrionic and other personality disorders, several factors that may contribute to the development of histrionic or other personality disorders have been discovered:
Scientists believe there is a genetic (inherited) link since histrionic personality disorder occurs in families.
Childhood trauma: Children may experience trauma as children, such as child abuse or a family member’s death, which can be disruptive or challenging in adulthood and lead to a Histrionic Personality Disorder.
Parenting styles include: Children who grow up with parents who lack boundaries, are overly indulgent, or are inconsistent are more likely to develop histrionic personality disorder. Furthermore, parents who participate in dramatic, impulsive, explosive, or inappropriate sexual conduct increase the likelihood of their children developing the disease. Some researchers suggest that problems with parent-child relationships lead to the low self-esteem of HPD patients.
Analysis and Tests for Diagnostic Purpose
A child’s and adolescent’s personalities alter as they grow older. As a result, histrionic personality disorder is rarely diagnosed until someone is past the age of 18.
Personality disorders, such as histrionic personality disorder, are difficult to diagnose since most people with personality disorders believe their actions or thoughts are normal.
When they do seek help, it’s usually because they’re worried or depressed about the problems their personality disorder has produced, such as divorce or lost relationships, rather than because of the condition itself.
When a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, suspects someone of having histrionic personality disorder, they often ask broad, generic questions that evoke no defensive or aggressive responses. They want to know about the following things:
Previous occurrences
Relationships.
Work experience is required.
Reality-checking
The ability to control one’s impulses
Mental health professionals may interview the person’s relatives and friends for information because a person suspected of having histrionic personality disorder may be oblivious of their actions.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), which is used by mental health professionals to establish diagnoses, includes the criteria for histrionic personality disorder.
To be diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder, five (or more) of the following persistent behaviors must be present:
You feel uneasy when you’re not the center of attention.
Behaviour that is provocative or seductive.
Emotions that change and are fleeting.
His appearance attracts notice.
Speech that is vague and impressionistic.
Emotions that are overly dramatic or exaggerated.
Options are endless (easily influenced by others).
Relationships are perceived to be more intimate than they actually are.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT
What is the treatment for a person who has a hysterical personality disorder?
The majority of people with histrionic personality disorder (HPD) do not realize their acts are detrimental. They also have a tendency to exaggerate their feelings and dislike routine, which makes sticking to a treatment plan challenging.
They may seek counseling if they are depressed, which may be brought on by a loss or a broken relationship, or by another issue caused by their thoughts and actions.
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is usually the treatment of choice for histrionic or other personality disorders. The goal of treatment is to help the person identify the reasons and worries that underlying their beliefs and behaviors, as well as to help the person learn to relate to others in a more positive way.
The following methods of psychotherapy may be beneficial to people with histrionic personality disorder:
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which a group of people meets with a therapist or psychologist to discuss and describe their problems. People with HPD may benefit from group therapy, especially if they are alongside other people who have the disease. It can help people with HPD see their own acts reflected back to them.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the psychological factors that contribute to emotional discomfort. Through self-reflection and self-examination, the individual in therapy explores their life’s destructive interpersonal patterns.
Supportive psychotherapy aims to alleviate symptoms while also preserving, repairing, or enhancing self-esteem and coping skills. Supportive psychotherapy involves examining relationships and patterns of emotional response or behavior.
CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is a method of therapy that is goal-oriented and structured. A therapist or psychologist can help you go deeper into your thoughts and feelings. You’ll learn how your thoughts affect your actions. With CBT, you can learn to unlearn negative thought and behavior patterns and replace them with healthier ones.
Medication?
While there is no medicine to cure personality disorders, there is medication to alleviate melancholy and anxiety, which are common in people with histrionic personality disorder. If these difficulties are addressed, it may be simpler to treat histrionic personality disorder.
PREVENTION
Is there a way to avoid having a histrionic personality disorder?
While most cases of histrionic personality disorder are unavoidable, treatment can assist those who are prone to it build more effective coping mechanisms for triggering behaviors, ideas, and events.
OUTLOOK / PROGNOSIS
What are the risks associated with a histrionic personality disorder?
People with histrionic personality disorder are more likely to have depression and drug use disorders, such as cannabis use disorder and alcohol use disorder (HPD).
Comorbidities
Furthermore, persons who have HPD are more likely to have:
Somatic symptom disorder is a condition in which people become excessively concerned about a physiological symptom. They may have odd ideas, feelings, and behaviors in response to their symptoms.
Panic attacks are brief bursts of terror accompanied by strong physical responses that occur in response to common, nonthreatening events.
Disorders of conversion: A conversion disorder, sometimes called a functional neurological symptom disorder, is a medical illness in which a part of your neural system stops working. Your brain and body sense that a segment of your nervous system isn’t working even if there are no signs of structural damage.
Extreme attention-seeking behavior in HPD patients might include recurrent suicidal threats and gestures.
What is a person with histrionic personality disorder’s prognosis?
While there is no cure for histrionic personality disorder (HPD), many people with the disease live productive lives. Participants in talk therapy with HPD had better results because they have a better awareness of their disease and are more socially functional.
People with severe histrionic personality disorder, on the other hand, may struggle at job, in social situations, and in romantic relationships.
“It’s great that people are learning about this psychological concept,” Behr adds, “but it’s critical not to make an armchair diagnosis.” “We must likewise avoid conflating the terms ‘dramatic’ and ‘histrionic.’” Certain criteria must be met to be diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder, and this is not a phrase to be taken lightly.” It is also completely unauthentic to confuse it with usual teen drama.
