A reflection about hysteria: a modified or abandoned diagnosis?

Abstract

The present work intends to contribute to a reflection about hysteria, describing a path from the first formulations to the contemporary authors. It aims to depict the historic and conceptual evolution of hysteria, from a clinical syndrome — recognized since the ancient times — to a personality style. The hysteric symptomatology is multifaceted and fugitive and it is affected by cultural and social influences. Probably for this reason a polymorphic picture has been observed, changing across the historical ages and presenting different characteristics depending on cultural frameworks.