A mber Heard suffers from two personality disorders involving “extreme effort to be the centre of attention” and is suspected of faking post-traumatic stress disorder from her marriage to Johnny Depp, a forensic psychologist has said.

Dr Shannon Curry spent two days with the actress in December last year before diagnosing her with a borderline personality disorder and a histrionic personality disorder.

Giving evidence at Heard’s libel battle with Depp, the psychologist identified symptoms including “making up stories” and “manipulation tactics”, and said the disorders can be driven by a “terror of abandonment”.

And Dr Curry dismissed Heard’s claims to have suffered PTSD in the wake of her marriage to Depp, telling the Fairfax County court she found “pretty significant indications that she was grossly exaggerating symptoms of PTSD when asked about them”.

Depp, 58, is suing his ex-wife for $50 million over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed piece in which she described herself as a victim of violent and sexual abuse, while the Aquaman star, 35, is countersuing for $100 million over Depp’s claims that she is lying.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Shannon Curry testifies during Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard / REUTERS

The latest evidence from their volatile marriage included a claim from Depp’s Bahamas island manager that Heard said he would “die a fat, lonely old man” and called him a “washed-up actor”.

Tara Roberts also claimed to have witnessed Heard grabbing Depp’s clothes and hair, while she also described the Pirates of the Caribbean star once passing out drunk on the beach in front of his children.

Dr Curry, who was hired by Depp’s team to conduct evaluations of Heard, told jurors the disorders she found include “a tendency to be very self-righteous but to also deny that self-righteousness and to judge others critically against these high standards.

“They could use manipulation tactics to try and get their needs met, very needy of attention, approval, acceptance”, she said.

“They tend to distance people who are close to them. Initially they may seem very charming. They’re very socially sophisticated actually.”

She described personality disorder sufferers making “desperate attempts” to prevent a relationship from ending, saying that often turns the partner into a “punching bag”.

Depp’s case rests on an argument that Heard invented a series of allegations of domestic abuse during their relationship, and it was he who had in reality been the victim of violent outbursts.

Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation lawsuit at the County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virgina (2022) 1 /45 Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation lawsuit at the County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virgina (2022) AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images Fairfax County Court . POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Fairfax County Court Fairfax County Court Amber Heard was tearful in court (Elizabeth Frantz/AP) AP Actor Johnny Depp walks during his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 27, 2022. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Actor Johnny Depp greets his legal team as he arrives in the courtroom AP Actor Amber Heard speaks to a member of her legal team after a recess amid her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her POOL/AFP via Getty Images Actor Amber Heard appears in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, April 28, 2022. AP Amber Heard took to the stand on Wednesday REUTERS Johnny Depp demonstrates what he claims was an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard as he testifies during his defamation trial against Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard speaks with her legal team in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard filming Johnny Depp smashing kitchen cupboards Handout Amber Heard looks on at the end of the second day of her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s testimony during his defamation trial against her, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp is seen laying in a hospital after his finger was injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015, in this evidence photograph that was displayed as Depp testified during his defamation trial against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS Johnny Depp testifies at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard arrives in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard attends her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her, as a picture of an injury to his face is seen on a screen, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS A knife with an inscription “from Amber Heard to Johnny Depp” on the blade is seen during Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Amber Heard listens in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Amber Heard is embraced as she arrives at the start of the day during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Johnny Depp demonstrates how he claims he shielded himself from an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard as he testifies during his defamation trial against Heard POOL/AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp displays the middle finger of his hand, injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in 2015 AP Johnny Depp holds up his bandaged finger, injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015, in this evidence photograph that was displayed as Depp testified during his defamation trial against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS

Dr Curry said Heard had showed signs of “dramatic presentation”, telling the court: “When people are displaying these emotions with this personality disorder, there’s a sense of shallowness to it,” she said.

“People who are observing them will feel like it’s almost play-acting. This disorder involves extreme discomfort with not being the centre of attention, extreme efforts to be the centre of attention.

“When they feel they’re not the centre of attention you will see some strange things (like) making up stories to try and get attention (or) taking on the victim or princess role.”

Turning to PTSD, the doctor said it is an “easily faked” disorder, concluding: “Ms Heard did not have PTSD, there were also pretty significant indications that she was grossly exaggerating symptoms of PTSD when asked about them.”

The court heard Dr Curry had dinner and drinks with Depp and his legal team before assessing Heard, and she was accused of potential bias. But he said this was part of the interview process.

Heard is expected to give evidence as the seven-week trial continues.