Which personality disorder is often described as attention-seeking with shallow, labile emotions?

• A. Paranoid personality disorder
• B. Narcissistic personality disorder
• C. Histrionic personality disorder
• D. Schizoid personality disorder

Answer: (C)

Understanding this item relies on recognizing patterns of personality disorders related to how someone presents emotionally and socially. Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of excessive emotionality and a strong need to be the center of attention. People with this presentation often show dramatic, theatrical emotions that seem shallow and can change rapidly, and they frequently use their appearance or provocative behavior to draw focus to themselves. These features—emotional excess coupled with attention-seeking—best fit this disorder.

Paranoid personality disorder involves pervasive distrust and hostility toward others, which doesn’t center on seeking attention or dramatic affect. Narcissistic personality disorder centers on grandiosity and a demand for admiration, with a pattern of self-importance rather than the shallow, labile emotions emphasized here. Schizoid personality disorder is marked by social detachment and limited emotional expression, not by a need to be noticed or dramatic mood shifts. So the combination of attention-seeking behavior and shallow, rapidly shifting emotions points to histrionic personality disorder.