The British Journal of Psychiatry 136: 402-404 (1980)
© 1980 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Variability of mood and the diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder
PR Slavney and G Rich
Twenty patients with the diagnosis hysterical personality disorder were
compared with a matched control group pf patients with other personality
and neurotic diagnoses. Subjects' moods were assessed with a visual
analogue scale 4 times a day for 5 consecutive days. Patients with a
primary discharge diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder showed
greater variability of mood than controls. Since emotional lability is said
to be a characteristic hysterical trait, the results are taken as empirical
support for the validity of one of the clinical judgements inherent in the
diagnostic process.