Amber Heard was diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder, what is it?

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have been in court for over a week after Depp sued his ex-wife for defamation. During the trial, a doctor revealed that Amber Heard has histrionic personality disorder. What is this personality disorder?

What the doctor said during the trial

Johnny Depp’s legal team hired Dr Shannon Curry to assess Amber Heard's mental health. During her assessment, Dr Curry said that Heard suffered from a personality disorder that shows signs of ‘extreme effort to be the centre of attention’.

Dr Curry diagnosed Amber Heard with histrionic personality disorder (HPD) which can involve ‘manipulation tactics to try and get their needs met’.

During the trial, Dr Curry said:

[There is] a tendency to be very self-righteous but to also deny that self-righteousness and to judge others critically against these high standards.

They could use manipulation tactics to try and get their needs met, very needy of attention, approval, acceptance.

She then added:

They tend to distance people who are close to them. Initially they may seem very charming. They’re very socially sophisticated actually.

What is histrionic personality disorder?

HPD can sometimes be mistaken for borderline personality disorder (BPD). According to Khiron Clinics:

Both disorders are based on severe mood swings, impulsivity, and difficulty with relationships, which means that one disorder could easily be misdiagnosed for the other,

The main characteristics of HPD according to the clinic are:

• Discomfort in situations where one is not the centre of attention
• Inappropriate sexually seductive/provocative behaviour
• Rapidly shifting emotions
• Self-dramatisation and exaggerated expressions
• Easily influenced by outside circumstances

Those who have HPD can have difficulty maintaining friendships and romantic relationships. According to Dr Curry, those with HPD can be ‘very, very interested in their looks’ and will use them ‘to get what they want’. She also said that those who have HPD will either take on a ‘princess or victim role’.

Read more:

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