Hysterical psychopathy (stage personality disorder) is a pathology that is characterized by demonstrative manifestations, the need for praise and approval of others. Symptoms of such a disorder arise already in childhood and persist throughout life. The article describes the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
What is a pathology?
Patients with hysterical psychopathy tend to stand out from the crowd and by all possible means try to attract the attention of relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues. They often commit rash and unexpected actions.
Stage personality disorder occurs in 2 - 6% of the world's population. It is characteristic of both the stronger sex and women. All patients with a similar deviation are united by increased egocentrism. It is difficult for these people to come to terms with the lack of interest and attention to their person. Patients do not even care what kind of reactions they provoke in others - positive or negative. Such individuals can be compared with artists playing in public.
Hysterical psychopathy does not always lead to impaired adaptation in society and failures in the professional sphere. Many patients with this disorder achieve great success in activities that require creativity. However, the increased desire for attention and praise, the painful perception of comments and suggestibility often provokes troubles: deterioration of reputation, parting with a partner, loss of property.
Causes of pathology
Today, experts cannot give an exact answer to the question of why hysterical psychopathy develops. The symptoms of this deviation, as is known, manifest themselves in the early years, and there is an assumption that bad heredity and some character traits of the child play an important role in the development of the disorder. In addition, there is a hypothesis that the pathology is the result of a difficult pregnancy in the mother, difficulties in delivery, and diseases of the central nervous system in the baby.
Incorrect attitudes and errors in education also contribute to the formation of stage disorder. Often, deviation occurs in children who, from an early age, were inspired by the idea of gender inequality. Sometimes the disease is diagnosed in spoiled babies.
They try not to punish such boys and girls for wrongdoing, they constantly praise and emphasize their talent, exceptionalism and uniqueness.
Signs of the disorder in childhood
Hysterical psychopathy in this period is manifested by frequent whims, a demonstrative manner of behavior. Kids with such a deviation do not listen to adults, they strive by all means to get what they want. They react painfully to failure, they can fall to the floor, stomp their feet, cry loudly and scream.
However, such children are often distinguished by pronounced artistry and have creative abilities. They are happy to participate in theatrical productions, recite poems. Sometimes they like to lie, invent fantastic stories for themselves in order to attract the attention of peers.
Features of pathology in adolescents
In the puberty, signs of deviation become more pronounced. Boys and girls with this disorder are prone to shock. To attract attention, they sometimes attempt suicide, but choose the least dangerous methods (cuts of veins, taking pills).
Similar actions are taken in such a way that someone around can come to the rescue in time. They are not aimed at leaving life, but at achieving goals, avoiding well-deserved punitive measures. The hysterical psychopathy of the personality in the puberty is accompanied by shoots from the house. Moreover, adolescents are confident that adults know where to find them. Similar actions are also aimed at avoiding responsibility for bad deeds, avoiding punishment.
Sometimes boys and girls have increased attention to their well-being. They try to convince relatives and doctors that they have a serious pathology. To achieve this goal, adolescents undergo numerous examinations, are in the hospital for a long time and react negatively to the opinions of others that they are healthy.
Features of the disease in adult patients
One of the characteristics of individuals with hysterical psychopathy is labile behavior. Depending on the situation and environment, they can be vulnerable and shy or, conversely, self-confident, persistent and even impulsive. Patients choose extravagant things and accessories that are immediately evident. They respond to remarks and criticism with a cry, demonstrative crying.
They tend to exaggerate their talents or merits, to tell lies about events from the past. Individuals with this deviation quickly converge with people, but relationships are usually short-lived and unstable. Patients are easily disappointed in a partner or friend if his behavior does not match their desires. The judgment of patients is based on external impressions. In this regard, such individuals often change their environment, part with loved ones, enter into conflicts with colleagues, relatives. Their demeanor is immaturity. Patients sharply react to comments, but do not seek to understand themselves, to work on their personality.
Characteristic features of pathology in persons of the weaker sex
Hysterical psychopathy in women manifests itself in selfishness, the presence of an idea or aspiration, which patients realize at any cost. If someone makes an attempt to prevent him from achieving his goal, he will forever remain an enemy for the patient. Symptoms of deviation are most noticeable in girls in the puberty period and in women during menopause. Patients tend to exaggerate significant events, a colorful description of their emotions. Their facial expressions and gestures are expressive. Often there are outbreaks of aggression, loud crying. Symptoms of hysterical psychopathy in women manifest in appearance and style. Patients wear revealing outfits, choose bright cosmetics, and constantly focus on their sexual attractiveness.
Signs of pathology in men
In men, the pathology is usually more serious. Demonstrative manifestations in adolescence are explained by the boy’s desire to achieve authority among peers. However, creating a family, the patient begins to experience difficulties in relations with his spouse. A man tries to emphasize what is paramount in a couple. This behavior destroys the harmonious union between two adults.
If the patient thinks that the wife is not attentive enough to him, he provokes conflicts and even begins to suspect the chosen one of infidelity.
Methods for identifying an ailment
Diagnosing the disorder involves three or more symptoms of psychopathy. These are signs such as inharmonious personality development, behavioral abnormalities, stability disorders for many years. Factors such as the impact of manifestations on personal life, professional activity, relationships with others are taken into account. In addition, the specialist draws attention to pretentious manners, patient demonstrative actions, bright, frank clothing, an increased need for attention, encouragement, a tendency to manipulate and offend. With hysterical psychopathy, treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms of the disorder.
Therapies
With a mild form of the disease, as well as in the presence of illness in minors, the decisive role is played by work with specialists, changing the style of upbringing in the family, and helping to find activities that correspond to the individual’s inclinations and interests. Usually, medication is not required. Hysterical psychopathy with decompensation involves the use of drugs on an outpatient basis or in a hospital. Patients are prescribed antipsychotics, drugs to combat depression, stimulants.
In addition, other methods of correcting behavioral disorders are used. These are various techniques of psychotherapy. Specialists teach patients how to manage their emotions and control them.
The prognosis for such a deviation is relatively favorable. This means that complete recovery does not occur, however, with the help of modern methods of treatment (psychotherapeutic techniques, medications), steady improvements and stabilization of the state can be achieved. Thus, a person can function normally in society. The disease leads to disability in only extremely rare cases.