ABSTRACT
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD), as delineated by DSM-IV, is not synonymous with hysterical personality disorder that is described in the psychoanalytic literature. Rather, the description and criteria of HPD reflect a more primitive entity than the higher-functioning hysterical personality. Needless to say, the treatment of HPD is more challenging than the treatment of hysterical personality disorder. Nevertheless, individuals with HPD can be effectively treated. This chapter describes specific engagement, pattern analysis, pattern change, and pattern maintenance and termination strategies for effectively managing and treating this disorder. In addition to individual psychotherapeutic strategies and tactics, group, marital, family, medication, and integrative and combined treatment strategies are detailed. An extensive case example illustrates the treatment process. Before turning to treatment strategies, the DSM-IV description and criteria are briefly presented.
