Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors, with symptoms including being overly dramatic, sensitive to criticism, and needing reassurance. Diagnosis involves a psychological evaluation and assessment of behavior and history, while treatment often includes psychotherapy and, when necessary, medication. The disorder's causes remain unclear, but genetic and childhood factors may contribute, and it is more frequently diagnosed in women.

1. Fitango Education
Health Topics
Histrionic Personality Disorder
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2. Overview
Histrionic personality disorder is a condition in
which people act in a very emotional and dramatic
way that draws attention to themselves.
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3. Symptoms
People with this disorder are usually able to
function at a high level and can be successful
socially and at work.
Symptoms include:
-- Acting or looking overly seductive
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4. Symptoms
-- Being easily influenced by other people
-- Being overly concerned with their looks
-- Being overly dramatic and emotional
-- Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval
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5. Symptoms
-- Believing that relationships are more intimate
than they actually are
-- Blaming failure or disappointment on others
-- Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
-- Having a low tolerance for frustration or delayed
gratification
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6. Symptoms
-- Needing to be the center of attention (self-
centeredness)
-- Quickly changing emotions, which may seem
shallow to others
Medline Plus - National Institutes of Health:
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7. Diagnosis
The health care provider can diagnose histrionic
personality disorder by looking at your:
-- Behavior
-- History
-- Overall appearance
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8. Diagnosis
-- Psychological evaluation
-- Like other personality disorders, histrionic
personality disorder is diagnosed based on a
psychological evaluation and the history and
severity of the symptoms.
Medline Plus - National Institutes of Health:
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9. Treatment
People with this condition often seek treatment
when they experience depression or anxiety from
failed romantic relationships or other conflicts with
people. Medication may help the symptoms, but
talk therapy (psychotherapy) is the best treatment
for the condition itself.
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10. Causes
The cause of this disorder is unknown. Both genes
and early childhood events are thought to
contribute. It occurs more often in women than in
men, although it may be diagnosed more often in
women because attention-seeking and sexual
forwardness are less socially acceptable for
women.
Histrionic personality disorder usually begins in
early adulthood.
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