This work investigates the clinical manifestations and underlying psychic structures of hysteria as understood through contemporary psychoanalytic theory. Christopher Bollas, a prominent psychoanalyst and author, utilizes his extensive clinical experience to re-examine the historical and diagnostic evolution of hysterical phenomena. He argues that hysteria is not merely a relic of early psychiatry but a complex, active mode of psychic communication that requires a nuanced, relational approach to treatment.

Experts in the field of psychoanalysis recognize this text as a significant contribution to the understanding of complex personality disorders. Readers frequently note the clinical density of the prose, which is intended for practitioners and students of psychology rather than a general audience.