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The title of this volume is somewhat misleading. Its focus is on psychotherapeutic interventions in the treatment of histrionic personality disorders rather than in hysterical disorders, which would also include conversion disorders and the dissociative disorders. Furthermore, this book deals mainly with issues pertaining to female patients (to be expected) in treatment with male therapists. The actual focus becomes quite clear early on, but the reader should not anticipate a general discussion of the psychotherapy of the full range of “hysterical” psychopathology.
In their preface, the authors make reference to two studies, “a large sample” of female hysterics in treatment with male and female therapists. This research provided background information and verification for some of the theoretical and practical considerations that were explored in a third study about the processes of psychotherapy with the hysterical personality. Presumably, this research provided the data on which the current volume is based, but there is no discussion of the research, and no references to other publications are given that would allow the reader to consider the validity of the research. Many readers will like to know more about the research. However, given the range of cases described, this information is all the more important. Several patients, often with substance abuse problems, seem more likely to have a borderline than a histrionic personality disorder. For others, the diagnosis is unclear.
The book is divided into three general sections: (1) Developmental and Dynamic Themes; (2) Psychotherapy: Guidelines for Intervention; and (3) The Process of Psychotherapy. The authors' review of the literature reflects a solid knowledge of prior writing in the field. They place particular emphasis on the work of Chodoff (1974, 1978, 1982), Farber and Easser and Lesser (1965) whose influence is acknowledged and clear throughout the book. Their perspective, also draws heavily on Herman's (1981