The Case of Hilde

The Case of Hilde

Hilde’s case of histrionic personality disorder will be discussed and the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of her disorder will be examined. 

An Overview of the Case of Hilde

Hilde is a 42-year-old woman with histrionic personality disorder.  Hilde suffered from headaches and depression.  She saw her family physician about this and was prescribed Valium, which turned out to be unsuccessful.  Her physical referred her to a psychiatrist, where she is going for therapy.  At times her husband also attends her therapy sessions.  Hilde is dealing with an array of biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of histrionic personality disorder.  She is dramatic, insensitive, detached, irresponsible, superficial, shallow, and lacks the drive for personal achievements and in-depth relationships. 

Biological Components

Hilde grew up in a wealthy family that handed out little reward for achievement.  She was beautiful, social, and had a large group of friends; she became spoiled.  Hilde’s mother was not involved in her life, although she did like to show Hilde off to her friends.  She treated Hilde like an object more than a person, or even her daughter.  Hilde’s father did not have time for her, and like her mother, gave her attention only in superficial ways.  It is probable that Hilde’s disorder is both learned and genetic.  Although she did not admit it, Hilde’s children were showing signs of possessing their mother’s disorder.  Hilde tried taking Valium, which did not help.  It is possible that an anti-depressant accompanied with psychotherapy could help Hilde live a more functional life.  Psychotherapy will help her to relate to others better and to acknowledge and deal with her fears.  Anti-depressants may also be prescribed to help her deal with depression. 

Emotional and Cognitive Components

Hilde has lacked emotional attachments in life.  She grew up in a superficial family and had the “perfect” high school and college life, without making any true connections.  After college Steve courted her for a short time before they became married.  Even still, their relationship lacked any real depth.  Hilde is emotionally insensitive and avoids taking responsibility for her own role in the relationship.

Hilde found it hard to associate meaning to things, such as her marriage.  She does not seem to have a passion for life the way she appears to. She lacks responsibility because she has been able to deflect consequences with her good looks and charm.  Hilde has a problem with connecting to people on a deeper level, which would involve making herself vulnerable.  She puts on a cheerful and optimistic façade to everyone around her, even when she is really having problems in her life.  Hilde has become depressed at times and sometimes overdrinks.  It seems as though she may be conscious to the problems she has caused herself in life, and her inability to cope.   

Behavioral Components

During her appointment with the psychiatrist, Hilde rambled on about her past, yet did not see how her past has affected her present stress, nor did she care to.  Once her psychiatrist wanted to dig deeper, she became irritated and petulant.  Hilde’s husband described her as lively and exuberant when he first met her.  “Over the years, it became clear that her liveliness was not the exuberance and love of life of an integrated personality, but simply a chronic flamboyance and an intensity that was often misplaced” (Meyer, Chapman & Weaver, 2009, p. 204).  Hilde’s looks and sexuality had gotten her as far as she ever wanted to go in life. As her looks were fading she has become obsessed with keeping up her physical appearance, which according to Mayo Clinic (2010) is a symptom of histrionic personality disorder.  Without any real depth to their relationship, she and Steve emotionally went their separate ways while still putting up the façade of their marriage.

Conclusion

Hilde’s case of histrionic personality disorder was discussed and the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of her disorder examined, resulting in the possibility that with psychotherapy Hilde will learn to relate to others more deeply and cope with her disorder. 

References

Mayo Clinic. (2010). Mayo clinic. Retrieved from ttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/personality-disorders/DS00562/DSECTION=symptoms 

Meyer, R., Chapman, L. K., & Weaver, C. M. (2009). Case studies in abnormal behavior. (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.