A patient displays excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, what personality disorder is this?

The correct answer is C, Histrionic Personality Disorder. This disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder often seek to be the center of attention and may display rapidly shifting emotions, dramatic behaviors, and may use their physical appearance to draw attention. They are often uncomfortable when they are not the focus of attention and may use seductive behaviors, theatrics, and exaggeration to maintain this focus.

In contrast, while Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder also involve emotional instability and attention-seeking traits, they encompass broader ranges of symptoms and different underlying motivations. Borderline individuals may have intense relationships and fear of abandonment, accompanied by mood swings and impulsiveness, and Narcissistic individuals typically exhibit a strong sense of entitlement and a need for admiration rather than the overt display of emotion that characterizes Histrionic Personality Disorder. Antisocial Personality Disorder, on the other hand, is defined by a disregard for the rights of others and lack of empathy, which does not align with the traits of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior in this scenario. Thus, the characteristics of the patient align most closely with Histrionic Personality Disorder.