Histrionic Personality Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is a type of personality disorder falling under Cluster B. It is characterised by exhibiting attention-seeking behaviour, dramatisation, behaving inappropriately seductively, etc. HPD can be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors such as childhood trauma, poor social environment, hereditary, etc. 

While HPD can present itself in different ways in different individuals, some common symptoms include constantly seeking approval, displaying shallow emotions, feeling upset when not being the centre of attention, dressing and behaving in a way to draw attention, lacking sincerity in personal relationships, and so on. If you’re looking to discuss HPD for yourself or your loved one with a mental health coach, talk to them over a free 20-minute call. The treatment options such as cognitive behavioural therapy, supportive therapy, and psychodynamic therapy can help you navigate through this experience and remind you that you are not alone in this journey.

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is distinguished as a Cluster B personality disorder. Cluster B personality disorders are characterised by dramatisation, impulsiveness, and erratic and unpredictable thinking and behaviour. 

The term ‘histrionic’ in Histrionic Personality Disorder comes from the Late Latin word “histrionicus” which means “dramatic” or “theatrical”, referring to the self-dramatisation seen in people coping with HPD. If you’re looking to discuss your experience with HPD and want to explore your options as to what you can do, talk to a mental health coach over a free 20-minute call.

What are personality disorders?

Before understanding HPD, it is helpful to know about the group of mental disorders it belongs to. Your personality is the way you think, behave, and feel. Personality disorders are a group of mental disorders where you experience a significant difference in thinking, perceiving reality, and behaving from others. They are bifurcated into clusters as per the nature of the personality traits.

Cluster B personality disorders are characterised by overly emotional, dramatic, and unpredictable ways of thinking and behaving.  

Cluster B includes:

• Antisocial personality disorder, 
• Borderline personality disorder, 
• Narcissistic personality disorder, and 
• Histrionic personality disorder

Related: Transforming Life with Therapy: Overcoming Paranoid Personality Disorder

Remember that these personality disorders are manageable with the right support from your friends and family and an adequate treatment plan from your therapist and psychiatrist. Talk to them to get more insights into what is going on with you and how they can help you better. 

What Causes Histrionic Personality Disorder

Like most mental conditions, there isn’t a single histrionic personality disorder cause. It usually occurs as a result of two or more factors combined such as genes and the environment. 

As HPD tends to run in families, these personality traits can be passed on from generation to generation. Hence, some people are more susceptible to being diagnosed with this personality disorder than others. 

If left unaddressed, childhood traumatic experiences can stay with us throughout our lives. HPD can also be easily triggered by trauma. Trauma can be described as an experience that is deeply distressing and disturbing to take in. The coping mechanisms used to respond to trauma can manifest in several ways and could result in unhealthy behaviours that give rise to HPD traits.

Related: The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health: Strategies for Healing and Moving Forward

Histrionic Personality Disorder Symptoms 

HPD can have a different presentation in different individuals. Here are some common histrionic personality disorder symptoms:

• Constantly seeking approval and recognition
• Feeling uncomfortable or low when not the centre of attention
• Exhibiting inappropriate sexual or flirtatious behaviour even towards people that they are not sexually attracted to
• Expressing shallow emotions and rapidly shifting from one to another
• Speaking dramatically as if performing in a theatre
• Expressing strong opinions without any evidence
• Dressing to draw attention by wearing bright colours or revealing clothing
• Lacking sincerity in personal relationships
• Getting bored and frustrated very easily 
• Using threats of suicide and attempting suicide to manipulate others

Also read: How to Recognise and Manage Histrionic Personality Disorder

If you are wondering whether you or someone you know may be exhibiting these behaviours, it is important that you speak to a mental health professional to understand how to proceed further. Our mental health coach will be able to assist you with the same through a 20-30 minute call, for free.

How to Deal With Histrionic Personality Disorder

Before knowing about the histrionic personality disorder treatment, remember that no medication is involved to treat this personality disorder. However, medication can be an option to treat conditions like anxiety and depression that can result due to HPD. Treating them can make it easier to approach treating HPD.

Moreover, different psychotherapies are used to work with HPD such as

• Psychodynamic therapy, 
• Supportive therapy, and 
• Cognitive behavioural therapy.

Also read: How to Find the Right Therapist for Managing Personality Disorders

The goal of these treatments is to help you carefully address your motivations and fears causing certain behaviours. With the right help and some lifestyle changes, you can flourish and live a productive life with HPD.

Bottom Line

Understanding the mechanisms of HPD can help you get to know yourself and your loved ones better. If there is anything more that you would like to know about HPD, feel free to connect with a mental health practitioner. 

Remember that every small step in your journey of coping with HPD shows courage and the willingness to get better to live a more fulfilling and healthy life. Every effort taken is a mark of immense self-love and compassion towards oneself.