Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What Is Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Histrionic personality disorder, or HPD, is a mental health condition that is characterized by strong, unstable emotions, a distorted self-image, and acting very dramatically. HPD belongs to the cluster B type of personality disorder, involving surprising or dramatic ways.

People with HPD like being the center of attention. They care a lot about what other people think about them. They don’t always love themselves much, and what others say about them can change how they feel. They often don’t realize that their behavior is problematic.

Who Is Affected?

Girls and women are more affected by histrionic personality disorder than boys and men. This is due to the fact that:

• Women show too much concern for their beauty and appearance. This behavior is elevated in their teenage years or during the early part of the ’20s.

• Another reason for the increased occurrence of this condition in females is that male patients make only a few registered reports. They are more hesitant to report to the doctor and get diagnosed.

• Another reason for this disorder to be more prevalent in females is their increased level of requirement to be validated by others in terms of physical appearance and professional excellence.

Certain reports suggest that males who become popular personalities at a very young age suffer from a histrionic personality disorder due to the abundant craze and validation they receive from their fans.

How Common Is It?

It is a rare condition, with HPD prevalence rates ranging between 0.4 % and 1.8 % of the general population.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder?

People with histrionic personality disorder are often really good at talking to people and making friends. But sometimes, they use these skills to make sure everyone is looking at them and giving them attention.

• Dress in a seductive and flirtatious manner.

• They become comfortable only when they become the center of attraction (attention-seeking behavior) in a social gathering.

• Alteration in the emotion in a rapid manner. They have shallow emotions.

• They are overly concerned with their physical appearance.

• The requirement for approval or reassurance is constant.

• Extremely sensitive to negative criticism.

• A tendency to get easily influenced by others.

• Dramatic behavior can resemble a performance or show in front of an audience.

• They lack sincerity in their behaviors.

• They get easily bored with everyday routine activities.

• They might tend to start new works or projects without completing the existing ones.

• Inability to think and act.

• Being very quick in decisions that might sound impulsive.

• Poor tolerance for other people's behavior.

• Improper stability in their relationship with others.

• They might threaten to commit suicide if they do not receive proper attention.

What Causes Histrionic Personality Disorder?

Nobody knows exactly why some people get HPD. But here are some things that might cause it:

1. Genetics: PD can run in families. If someone in your family has it, you might be more likely to have it too.

2. Environmental behaviors:

• Childhood traumas: These include sad or scary events like losing someone you love, being ignored, or being hurt.

• Parenting styles: Parents who are too strict, give too much, or don’t set rules might make HPD more likely.

• Learning from others: Kids can copy dramatic or attention-seeking behaviors they see in parents or other adults.

3. Others:

• Brain injuries.

• Copying the way other people act.

• Problems from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can raise the risk of behavior and learning problems.

How Is Histrionic Personality Disorder Diagnosed?

To know if a person has HPD, they need to see a special mental health doctor, called a psychologist or psychiatrist. Because our personality changes as we grow up, doctors usually don’t diagnose HPD until after the age of 18. It can be hard to diagnose HPD because many people don’t think anything is wrong. Most of the time, they visit a doctor because they are depressed or anxious because of their behavior.

When a doctor thinks someone might have HPD, they undergo a complete check-up called a clinical evaluation, including patient history and physical examination. The doctor may ask questions about:

• Past history

• Past work history.

• Relationships.

• Impulse control.

• Reality testing.

• Doctors might also talk to the person’s family or close friends to learn more.

Doctors use a guide called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which has special rules to diagnose HPD. The diagnostic criteria include:

• Pattern of behavior: The person acts this way in many parts of life, at school, work, with friends, or at home, and it usually starts when they are young.

• At least 5 of these signs should be present:

  • Feels upset if they aren’t the center of attention.

  • Acts overly flirty or tries to attract people in a big way.

  • Has feelings that change quickly and aren’t very deep.

  • Dresses or looks a certain way just to get attention.

  • Talks in a way that sounds fancy but doesn’t have many details.

  • Shows very dramatic emotions.

  • Easily influenced by other people.

  • Thinks relationships are closer than they really are.

There’s no blood test, X-ray, or brain scan to find HPD.

What Are the Treatment Options for Histrionic Personality Disorder?

The treatment options for histrionic personality disorder are:

A. Medical treatment: For patients who are suffering from complicated symptoms of histrionic personality disorder, the doctor will provide medications to overcome anger, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Medications include:

• Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

• Anxiolytics to manage anxiety.

B. Non-pharmacological treatments: These are the primary treatments, including:

• Psychotherapy: It is a very useful tool in training patients toward a healthy lifestyle. Individuals are taught many coping skills that will help them overcome their distress. Successful psychotherapy should improve the self-esteem of the patient. These include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps change negative thoughts into positive ones.

  • Psychodynamic therapy: Looks at past experiences that might have caused problems.

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Teaches skills for handling emotions, getting along with others, and being mindful.

  • Supportive therapy: Gives comfort, encouragement, and advice.

  • Group therapy: Here, a group of people meet up and discuss their problems.

  • Family therapy: Family members can learn how to give support and help their loved one get better.

C. Lifestyle modifications: This includes learning to manage stress, making healthy friendships and relationships, eating a balanced diet, and staying active. Other than this, yoga, tai chi, biofeedback, and the mindfulness technique may help.

What Are the Complications of Histrionic Personality Disorder?

If someone has HPD and doesn’t get help, it can cause other problems, like:

• Trouble keeping healthy friendships or relationships.

• Feeling anxious, sad, or having mood problems.

• Using drugs or alcohol to deal with emotions.

• Somatic symptom disorder (thinking too much about physical symptoms).

• Panic attacks.

• Conversion disorder (physical problems caused by stress).

• Talking about hurting themselves or making threats to do so.

• Having a hard time coping when someone or something important is lost.

• Eating problems like bulimia nervosa.

How to Prevent Histrionic Personality Disorder?

You can’t always stop HPD from happening, but there are ways to lower the chances:

• Get help from a mental health professional early if a child is having behavior or emotional problems.

• Have a family that talks, listens, and supports each other.

• Learn about mental health, including what HPD is.

• Practice mindfulness.

• Keep a healthy lifestyle.

Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder

Having HPD can be difficult, but people can still live a happy and full life if they manage their symptoms and get help from a mental health professional. People with HPD should:

• Understand their feelings better by practicing mindfulness and writing in a journal to notice what things make them feel upset.

• Keep relationships healthy by setting boundaries.

• Take care of themselves.

Conclusion:

Histrionic personality disorder is a mental health problem. Here, the person might act very dramatically, always want attention, and have feelings that change quickly. It can cause problems with friendships, family, and work. If the person doesn’t get help, it can also lead to other health problems.

But don’t worry, personality disorders can be managed! It just takes time, patience, and regular visits with mental health doctors.

Key takeaway from iCliniq

• Histrionic personality disorder is a mental health problem where people act very dramatically, want lots of attention, and care a lot about what others think.

• According to studies, about 0.4 % to 1.8 % of people in the general population may have it. Nobody knows the exact cause, but it can be linked to family traits (genetics) and life experiences (environment).

• If you or someone you love is feeling really upset or having trouble taking care of their mental health, please talk to an iCliniq mental health specialist. They can help you feel better and give you the care you need.