FRIDAY EARLY AFTERNOON HOT TOPICS 1 (F2HT1): 3.00 PM - 4.30 PM

Hot Topics: Session 1 

The Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Sexual Attitudes and Polyamorous Relationships of Patients with Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) 

by Golafrooz Gholamy

Abstract:

Introduction: Defining characteristics of Histrionic Personality Disorders (HPD) includes need to be center of attention, exaggerated/ inappropriate emotionality, and seductiveness. Polyamorous people have multiple loving, intentional, and intimate relationships at the same time. In this research, Polyamory specifically refers to patients with HPD who have multiple romantic relationships at the same time. Also, patients implement the strategy of seduction as a method of negotiating their sexual relationships . This is primarily based on desire, normally physical, as well as attraction towards them.

Method: Study participants were 9 patients with HPD receiving schema therapy in a private online setting. Participants completed self-report measures, Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3), Schema Mode Inventory (SMI) and The Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale (BSAS) at admission and after 3 weeks, to assess stabilization and functional improvements, with added attention to the acquisition of experiential techniques, cognitive and behavioral skills.

Results: Over the past twelve years, relatively extensive research on schema therapy has been conducted to study HPD, but the literature has not yet systematically examined the sexual attitudes and polygamous relationships of individuals with this particular personality disorder. Findings show that patients with HPD were sexually abused as children by more than three people. Their values and beliefs about sexuality are quite different from those of the control group. They explicitly reported the need for different sexual partners. A permanent relationship with someone is considered boring. They like the attention of others to their seductions. They are not sexually active and focused. They also imagine the sexual fantasy of more than two relationships.

Conclusion: Schema therapy can affect the change in sexual attitudes of patients with HPD. Strengthening a healthy adult mode and managing modes and modifying EMS eliminates polygamous relationships and leads to a strong and stable relationship with one person.

Keywords: Schema Therapy, Sexual Attitudes, Polyamorous Relationships, Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)

About the Presenter:

Golafrooz Gholamy: 

MA in Clinical Psychology, Training Manager & Research Committee in Iranian Institute of Schema Therapy (IIST); Deputy coordinator in Center for Advanced Studies in Mental Health (CASMH)