Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentComplicationsCoping WithFAQs

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Complications

Coping With

FAQs

Close

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is apsychological disorderin which a person has a pattern of extreme emotionality andattention-seeking behavior. Its name comes from the wordhistrionic, which means “dramatic or theatrical."

Other Cluster B disorders includeborderline personality disorder(BPD),antisocial personality disorder, andnarcissistic personality disorder.

Introduction to the DSM Personality Disorders

Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

If you’re wondering whether you or someone you know may have histrionic personality disorder, its symptoms can include:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

In some cases, someone may have histrionic personality disorder and not realize it because their way of thinking and behaving seems natural to them. They may also blame others for the challenges they face.

Diagnosis of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Many histrionic personality disorder symptoms are similar to those experienced with other psychiatric disorders and medical illnesses. Therefore, a health provider will likely first make adifferential diagnosisto rule out other disorders or medical conditions that may be causing the person’s symptoms.

There is no stand-alone histrionic personality test that a provider can use to diagnose this condition.Instead, theDSM-5indicates that a person must have five or more of the following signs or symptoms to be diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder:

Histrionic personality disorder tends to co-occur with a few other mental health disorders. Related or co-occurring conditions include:

Histrionic Personality Disorder vs. BPD

There is a great deal of overlap between the features of histrionic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD). For instance, the conditions share similarities such as:

Because of these similarities, some experts believe that HPD may not actually be distinguishable from BPD.Yet, the DSM-5 disagrees.

Some clinicians also argue that the qualities of symptoms are different in histrionic personality disorder versus borderline personality disorder. Specifically, the rapidly shifting emotions in HPD are not experienced with the same depth and intensity as those in BPD.

Despite predictions that the HPD diagnosis would be dropped in the DSM-5, it remains its own specific and unique diagnosis.

Causes of Histrionic Personality Disorder

There is no singular or precise cause of histrionic personality disorder. It is believed that this mental health condition is more so the result of a combination of genetic and environmental influences.

Risk Factors

Several factors have been found to increase a person’s risk of developing a personality disorder. Some of these risk factors include:

Treatment for Histrionic Personality Disorder

There is currently no cure for histrionic personality disorder. However, individuals with this condition can lead productive lives and their outlook is good, particularly if they engage in psychotherapy (talk therapy).Treatment may also include medications, along with lifestyle changes.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapycan be effective in treating histrionic personality disorder. For instance, one study of 159 patients with HPD found that clarification-oriented psychotherapy helped reduce patients' symptoms and improved their relationship processes.

Group therapyandfamily therapyare generally not recommended for people with histrionic personality disorder. This is because some of their symptoms—such as seeking attention and exaggerating symptoms—may be triggered or worsened in a group atmosphere.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Medication

There are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of histrionic personality disorder. Although, some medicines may be used to treat affective dysregulation that can accompany this disorder, includingmood swings,anger, tearfulness,anxiety, anddepression.

Alternative Therapies

Complications of Histrionic Personality Disorder

People with histrionic personality disorder can have trouble maintaining close relationships with others due to their behaviors. HPD is also associated with higher rates ofbullying behaviorsandinternet addiction.

People with a personality disorder don’t always recognize the effects of their behaviors on others. This can lead to distress in various areas of their life beyond their relationships, negatively impacting them socially as well as in the workplace.

At the same time, not all effects of histrionic personality disorder are negative. Males with HPD often report better sexual functioning, for example, and this condition may also provide beneficial effects such aslower levels of lonelinessandsocial anxiety.

Coping With Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder often goes underdiagnosed and is undertreated. So, perhaps the best way to improve symptoms is to first identify them. Then, with appropriate treatment, you can learn to manage the symptoms and come up with aself-care planto improve your quality of life.

Ways to cope with histrionic personality symptoms include:

How to Cope With a Personality Disorder

For Loved Ones

If a friend or family member has histrionic personality disorder, it is important to encourage that person to seek help. Without professional treatment, it is unlikely that the symptoms (and their related impacts on relationships) will improve.

It can also be helpful to learn as much as you can about HPD. This can help you better understand histrionic personality, also giving you the information you need to better support your loved one.

If you or a loved one are struggling with histrionic personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with histrionic personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

Frequently Asked QuestionsIt might. Some studies suggest that histrionic personality disorder remains stable throughout the lifespan while others indicate that it may increase.There is limited research on personality disorders in older adults so the answer to this question is not quite clear.When compared to people without histrionic personality disorder, someone with this condition tends to have a harder time recognizing emotions in others and in themselves.This could potentially make it more difficult for them to be empathetic.Learn More:What Is Empathy?Suggestible, emotionally unstable, attention-seeking, seductive, and trouble paying attention to detail are all histrionic personality traits.Egocentric, shallowness, and theatrical are a few others.Learn More:Personality Traits: The Big 5

Frequently Asked Questions

It might. Some studies suggest that histrionic personality disorder remains stable throughout the lifespan while others indicate that it may increase.There is limited research on personality disorders in older adults so the answer to this question is not quite clear.

When compared to people without histrionic personality disorder, someone with this condition tends to have a harder time recognizing emotions in others and in themselves.This could potentially make it more difficult for them to be empathetic.Learn More:What Is Empathy?

When compared to people without histrionic personality disorder, someone with this condition tends to have a harder time recognizing emotions in others and in themselves.This could potentially make it more difficult for them to be empathetic.

Learn More:What Is Empathy?

Suggestible, emotionally unstable, attention-seeking, seductive, and trouble paying attention to detail are all histrionic personality traits.Egocentric, shallowness, and theatrical are a few others.Learn More:Personality Traits: The Big 5

Suggestible, emotionally unstable, attention-seeking, seductive, and trouble paying attention to detail are all histrionic personality traits.Egocentric, shallowness, and theatrical are a few others.

Learn More:Personality Traits: The Big 5

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Angstman K, Rasmussen N.Personality disorders: Review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(11):1253-1260.Cleveland Clinic.Histrionic personality disorder.Ferguson CJ, Negy C.Development of a brief screening questionnaire for histrionic personality symptoms.Personal Indiv Diff. 2014;66:124-127. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.02.029Candel OS.A review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integrat Psychiat. 2019;3(82):43.Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, et al.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2022. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769Sng AA, Janca A.Mindfulness for personality disorders.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):70-76. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000213Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders.Bangash A.Personality disorders in later life: epidemiology, presentation and management.BJPsych Advances. 2020;26(4):208-281. doi:10.1192/bja.2020.16Ritzl A, Csukly G, Balázsc K, Égerházia A.Facial emotion recognition deficits and alexithymia in borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders.Psychiat Res. 2018;270:154-159. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.017

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Angstman K, Rasmussen N.Personality disorders: Review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(11):1253-1260.Cleveland Clinic.Histrionic personality disorder.Ferguson CJ, Negy C.Development of a brief screening questionnaire for histrionic personality symptoms.Personal Indiv Diff. 2014;66:124-127. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.02.029Candel OS.A review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integrat Psychiat. 2019;3(82):43.Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, et al.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2022. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769Sng AA, Janca A.Mindfulness for personality disorders.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):70-76. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000213Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders.Bangash A.Personality disorders in later life: epidemiology, presentation and management.BJPsych Advances. 2020;26(4):208-281. doi:10.1192/bja.2020.16Ritzl A, Csukly G, Balázsc K, Égerházia A.Facial emotion recognition deficits and alexithymia in borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders.Psychiat Res. 2018;270:154-159. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.017

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Angstman K, Rasmussen N.Personality disorders: Review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(11):1253-1260.Cleveland Clinic.Histrionic personality disorder.Ferguson CJ, Negy C.Development of a brief screening questionnaire for histrionic personality symptoms.Personal Indiv Diff. 2014;66:124-127. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.02.029Candel OS.A review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integrat Psychiat. 2019;3(82):43.Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, et al.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2022. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769Sng AA, Janca A.Mindfulness for personality disorders.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):70-76. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000213Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders.Bangash A.Personality disorders in later life: epidemiology, presentation and management.BJPsych Advances. 2020;26(4):208-281. doi:10.1192/bja.2020.16Ritzl A, Csukly G, Balázsc K, Égerházia A.Facial emotion recognition deficits and alexithymia in borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders.Psychiat Res. 2018;270:154-159. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.017

Angstman K, Rasmussen N.Personality disorders: Review and clinical application in daily practice.Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(11):1253-1260.

Cleveland Clinic.Histrionic personality disorder.

Ferguson CJ, Negy C.Development of a brief screening questionnaire for histrionic personality symptoms.Personal Indiv Diff. 2014;66:124-127. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.02.029

Candel OS.A review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integrat Psychiat. 2019;3(82):43.

Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463

American Psychological Association.What causes personality disorders?

Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, et al.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2022. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769

Sng AA, Janca A.Mindfulness for personality disorders.Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016;29(1):70-76. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000213

Cleveland Clinic.Personality disorders.

Bangash A.Personality disorders in later life: epidemiology, presentation and management.BJPsych Advances. 2020;26(4):208-281. doi:10.1192/bja.2020.16

Ritzl A, Csukly G, Balázsc K, Égerházia A.Facial emotion recognition deficits and alexithymia in borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders.Psychiat Res. 2018;270:154-159. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.017

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?