Hysteria is today called the histrionic personality. This personality disorder can be treated with cognitive and behavioral therapies. 

Hysteria is a disorder known since ancient times. The term hysteria was replaced by the term histrionic personality, the term hysteria being deemed demeaning and sexist. It refers to excessive and theatrical behavior that was once called hysterical. The histrionic or hysterical personality is characterized by a great need to attract attention and attention in order to feel existing.

Histrionic personality disorders are thought to affect 1 to 3% of the general population. Recent studies suggest that men and women are equally affected. Hysteria is linked to the conjunction of several factors: genetics, family and social environment. 

Other personality disorders are often associated with the histrionic personality: borderline, narcissistic, antisocial personalities… as well as anxiety disorders, mood disorders and addictions. 

Histrionic people always seek the attention of those around them. Being the center of attention reassures them of their personal values. Very concerned about their body and its appearance, their will to please and seductive behaviors, sometimes eroticized, animate their relationships with others. They show their emotions excessively. 

Other signs of the histrionic personality (hysteria): intolerance of frustrations, egocentrism, manipulation, relational inconstancy (the other is perceived only according to what he brings as a feeling of protection or pleasure to the relationship), low self-esteem. To compensate for the disillusionment, the histrionic person may take drugs or drink excessively.

Official diagnostic criteria

The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM IV) criteria for histrionic personality disorder are as follows:  

• The subject is uncomfortable in situations where he is not the center of other people’s attention;
• Interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexual seductive behavior or a provocative attitude;
• Emotional expression is superficial and rapidly changing;
• The subject regularly uses their physical appearance to attract attention;
• His manner of speaking is subjective and poor in detail;
• The person resorts to dramatization, theatrism and exaggeration of emotional expression;
• Suggestible, it is easily influenced by others or by circumstances;
• She considers her relationships to be more intimate than they actually are.

The histrionic personality disorder can cause disturbances in social life, in the life of a couple. The treatment of histrionic personality disorders relies primarily on cognitive and behavioral therapies. Dialectical behavioral therapy and mentalization are also very suitable. Psychodynamic psychotherapy can also be tried. Pharmacological treatment is only helpful in times of intense anxiety, depression, or serious substance abuse problems.

If your partner (spouse), a colleague or friend (friend) has a histrionic personality, you can help him by not criticizing his attitude, by not getting angry. It is his character: he or she cannot change. And if you get angry, the hysterical person may have a tearfulness or nervous breakdown or threaten to leave or kill themselves. 

Encourage your loved one when he or she is behaving correctly and show them your undivided attention when they speak precise, fact-based and focused on concrete problem-solving.

It is also important to keep a certain distance and not to get too involved in your theatrical game.