Tentatives suicidaires de l'hystérique : quels enjeux en milieu psychiatrique ?

The increasing numbers of suicides among hysterical patients in psychiatric facilities appears to relate to incorrect diagnosis of forms of distress that are socially unacceptable. Many subjects are wrongly identified as having Histrionic Personality Disorder, while those that are genuinely concerned are confronted with complete misunderstanding of their distress. The treatment of suicidal hysteria in psychiatric care thus appears ill suited. The psychiatric hospital, as the perfect stage for indifference towards this illness, could indeed encourage subjects to enhance their demonstrations of distress.