Histrionic Personality Disorder

Living with a mental health condition can impact many aspects of a person’s life. Understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatment of a mental health disorder may help people get the proper treatment and support to manage it. 

Personality disorders are a type of mental health condition that can affect a person’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. People with personality disorders typically require ongoing treatment and support to manage their symptoms.

This article will explore a condition called histrionic personality disorder (HPD). You will learn:

• What histrionic personality disorder is
• The symptoms of HPD
• What may cause histrionic personality disorder
• Risk factors for histrionic personality disorder
• What to expect during personality disorder treatment
• Where to find mental health treatment and support

If you or someone you love live with a personality disorder, including HPD, you are not alone. Contact the specialists at Agape Behavioral Health to learn about our treatment programs. Reach out for answers to your questions, for help verifying insurance details, or to schedule an intake appointment. 

What is Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental health condition. It is one of the Cluster B personality disorders, which involve erratic or dramatic behaviors.

The term “histrionic” means “theatrical or melodramatic.” People with histrionic personality disorder experience unstable emotions, a desire to be the center of attention, and a distorted sense of self.

One of the central features of histrionic personality disorder is an external focus on self-esteem. People with HPD rely on other’s approval for self-worth. They have an overwhelming need to be noticed and liked. 

People with HPD often engage in attention-seeking behaviors. They may act inappropriately or dramatically to draw attention toward themselves. They typically do not recognize their thoughts or behaviors as unusual or problematic.

Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

People with histrionic personality disorder exhibit superficial, excessive emotions and sexuality to gain attention from others. Some of the characteristic behaviors of histrionic personality disorder include:

• Being dramatic or “over the top” in their emotional expressions
• Excessive concern about physical appearance
• Excessively flirtatious or charming
• Overt sexual expressions with people, even if they are not attracted to them
• Speaking dramatically without clear details or facts to support opinions
• Using their appearance to get attention (wearing revealing or socially inappropriate clothing, for example)
• Feeling anxiety or depression if they are not the center of attention
• Being easily influenced by people they admire
• Having trouble forming and maintaining close relationships
• Believing relationships are closer than they actually are
• Having “fake” or shallow-seeming interactions with others

People with histrionic personality disorder are at higher risk of developing other conditions, including:

• Somatic symptom disorder (excessive worry about physical symptoms)
• Panic attacks
• Conversion disorder (a loss of functioning in an area of the nervous system)
• Substance use disorder (SUD)
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Recognizing the symptoms of HPD can help people get the treatment they need to manage this condition. 

Cause and Risk Factors for Histrionic Personality Disorder

Researchers don’t understand exactly what causes people to develop histrionic personality disorder. Some mental health experts believe several factors may contribute to this disorder, including:

• Genetics
• Childhood trauma
• Overly-permissive parenting styles
• Inappropriate parental behaviors during childhood

Histrionic personality disorder is more common in women. Most people with HPD begin to exhibit symptoms during the later teen years or early 20s. Mental health researchers believe HPD is rare, affecting only about 1% of the population in the US.

Diagnosing histrionic personality disorder begins with mental health testing. A mental health professional will first ask general questions about a person’s relationships, experiences, impulse control, and other relevant topics. If the mental health specialist believes a person may have histrionic personality disorder, they may suggest other forms of testing or evaluation.

To receive a diagnosis of HPD, people must meet five or more of the following criteria defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM):

• A history of provocative or seductive behaviors
• Easily influenced by others
• Shallow or quickly-shifting emotions
• Using physical appearance to get attention
• Thinks about relationships as more close or intimate than they are
• A history of exaggerated or dramatic emotions
• Feeling uncomfortable if they are not the center of attention
• Impressionistic, vague speech

Getting an accurate diagnosis can help people with HPD get the treatment they need to manage this condition. 

What to Expect During Treatment for Histrionic Personality Disorder

Treatment for histrionic personality disorder includes a combination of group therapy, individual talk therapy, and medications. 

Talk therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy used to treat HPD. Talk therapy can help people process emotions, identify destructive patterns, and develop healthy coping skills.

Group therapy

Group therapy helps people with HPD identify their own behaviors and make meaningful changes. It can also help people develop more effective communication and feel less isolated.

Medications

There are no medications to treat HPD or other personality disorders. However, people with HPD may benefit from taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to reduce these symptoms of the disorder. 

It is important to seek treatment as soon as you recognize the symptoms of HPD. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment can help people manage their symptoms effectively. This can help people with HPD restore functioning and improve their quality of life.

Find Treatment Now

If you or someone you love lives with histrionic personality disorder or another mental health condition, you are not alone. Contact the Agape Behavioral Center team to learn about our treatment programs or schedule an intake appointment. 

References:

1. National Institute of Health (NIH): Histrionic Personality Disorder
2. American Psychiatric Association (APA): What are Personality Disorders?
3. APA: Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.