What if your vibrant friend who always steals the spotlight is quietly battling an inner void and a fear of insignificance? Welcome to our deep dive into Dramatic Attention-Seeking Disorder (DASD), also known as Histrionic Personality Disorder. This episode promises to unravel the complexities behind the dramatic personas you encounter, revealing the DSM-5 criteria and the emotional turmoil that fuels their actions. We’ll explore the profound need for approval and validation that underpins their behavior, helping you see beyond the surface to the psychological struggles within.

In this episode, we focus on the specific behaviors and diagnostic criteria that define DASD, such as rapid emotional shifts and the use of physical appearance to draw attention. You’ll learn how these actions are habitual patterns rather than deliberate attempts to cause drama. By shedding light on common misconceptions—like the false equivalence of DASD with narcissism or the myth that it’s predominantly a female issue—we aim to foster a more empathetic and informed perspective on this mental health condition.

We'll dispel several damaging myths about DASD, including the notion that it can be easily treated with medication or that it's merely a product of Western culture. By highlighting the genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors contributing to DASD, we underscore the need for professional, long-term psychotherapy. We also emphasize the importance of compassion and healthy boundaries for those supporting individuals with DASD. Tune in as we prepare you for our next episode, where we’ll explore behaviors across all Cluster B personality disorders and their distinct motivations.

Resources for Further Reading.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). DSM-5. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Caligor, E., Levy, K. N., & Yeomans, F. E. (2015). Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Diagnostic and Clinical Challenges. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14060723

Ettensohn, M. D. (2013). The relational roots of narcissism: Exploring relationships between attachment style, acceptance by parents and peers, and measures of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. (Vol. 73, Issues 10-B(E), p. No Pagination Specified). ProQuest Information & Learning.

Fowler, K. A., Lilienfeld, S. O., & Patrick, C. J. (2009). Detecting psychopathy from thin slices of behavior. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014938

Levy, K. N., Ellison, W. D., & Reynoso, J. S. (2011). A historical review of narcissism and narcissistic personality. In The handbook of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: Theoretical approaches, empirical findings, and treatments. (pp. 3–13). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118093108

Lewis, K. C., & Mastico, E. R. (2017). Histrionic Personality Disorder. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 1–9). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_590-1

Millon, T. (2011). Disorders of Personality: Introducing a DSM/ICD Spectrum from Normal to Abnormal (1st ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118099254

Novais, F., Araújo, A., & Godinho, P. (2015). Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463

Pincus, A. L., & Lukowitsky, M. R. (2010). Pathological Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.121208.131215

Ronningstam, E. (2010). Narcissistic Personality Disorder: A Current Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-009-0084-z

Zimmerman, M., & Morgan, T. A. (2013). The relationship between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/mzimmerman

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