Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a psychological condition characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive attention-seeking behavior, emotional instability, and a strong desire to be the center of attention. People with HPD often have a need for approval and validation from others and may go to great lengths to gain attention and admiration.
Cluster B personality disorders is known for entailing overly emotional, dramatic, and erratic traits which is where histrionic personality disorders can be described best. The word histrionic itself means “dramatic” or “theatrical” which describes people with HPD as they tend to have an overwhelming desire to be noticed and often behave inappropriately to get the attention they seek.
Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is more commonly diagnosed among females than males (although both can be equally affected) with a prevalence rate around 2% of the population which is relatively rare. HPD can usually be detected during a person’s late teens or early 20s and diagnosed in the same period.
While there is no definitive cure for HPD, plenty of people who have this condition often lead productive lives aside from the frequent problems experienced in their environment with others. Those who participate in psychotherapy tend to have a better outcome as they begin to gain insight into their condition and in turn can function better socially. Having a strong support system, including family, friends, and loved ones, can positively impact the prognosis for individuals with HPD. Having a supportive network can provide stability, encouragement, and understanding, which can contribute to better treatment outcomes.
Showing signs of excessive emotions, the need to be noticed and strive for attention, and a distorted self-image that relies on others can all serve as signs for eccentric behaviors. Remember that it’s an ongoing pattern of varying self-image, moods, and behavior. If you feel that you know someone who has these varieties of shifts, or you experience them yourself, we encourage you to seek help with a professional. Lastly, we know that sometimes people tend to read symptoms associated with a certain disorder and automatically think that “I do that, I have this etc.”. When this happens, just remember that these symptoms have to be recurrent, persistent, and affect everyday job tasks greatly. Help is always reachable and effective.
The treatment process of Histrionic personality disorder includes multiple approaches. What makes the process challenging is that most people with HPD don’t believe their behaviors are problematic and dislike routines, which in turn makes it difficult to create and follow a treatment plan. Yet, it is possible if another problem has emerged like depression- can be associated with a failed relationship or loss of a friend- for example.
Psychotherapy also known as talk therapy can be beneficial for personality disorders in general. The goal is to help the person realize and uncover the fears associated with their thoughts and behaviors to then learn and create more positively appropriate ones.
Group therapy (can help all people with HPD see their own behavior reflected back to them) psychodynamic psychotherapy (can help tackle roots of emotional suffering through self-reflection and examination), supportive psychotherapy (can help examine relationship patterns of emotional response or behavior), and CBT (can help understand how your thoughts affect your actions which is very beneficial for histrionic personalities) are all examples of talk therapies that can be used in the treatment process of HPD.
There isn’t a specific medication course treatment for Histrionic personality disorder, but if depression, anxiety or any other underlying problematic issue is present, medications can serve as a treatment for these conditions.