Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, which usually manifests itself in early adulthood. These people generally feel bad when they are not the center of attention, they use their physical appearance to capture people’s attention and are easily influenced.
Treatment consists of psychotherapy sessions with a psychologist and, if the person also suffers from anxiety or depression, it may be necessary to undergo pharmacological treatment prescribed by the psychiatrist.
Main symptoms
According to the DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the characteristic symptoms that may occur in a person with Histrionic Personality Disorder are:
- Discomfort when not the center of attention;
- Inappropriate behavior towards other people, often characterized by a sexually provocative or seductive approach;
- Superficiality and rapid changes in the expression of emotions;
- Using physical appearance to attract attention;
- Recurrence of excessively impressionistic speech, but with few details;
- Exaggerated, dramatic and theatrical emotional expression;
- Easily influenced by others or circumstances.
Additionally, people with this personality disorder often view relationships as more intimate than they really are.
Possible causes
It is not known for sure what causes this personality disorder, but it is thought to be related to hereditary factors and childhood experiences.
How the treatment is carried out
Generally, people with this type of personality disorder believe that they do not need treatment unless they develop depression, which can result from the impact this disorder has on relationships with other people.
Psychotherapy is, in most cases, the first-line treatment for histrionic personality disorder and consists of helping the person to identify the motivations and fears that may be at the origin of their behavior and learning to manage them in a more positive.
If this disorder is associated with anxiety or depression, it may be necessary to resort to medication, which must be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
