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Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is also sometimes known as hysterical personality disorder. It is characterized by a person with an excessive emotional expression. The person is often attention seeking, sometimes including an exaggerated need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness. It is typically found in early adulthood.
A person with histrionic personality disorder is usually lively, dramatic, enthusiastic and flirtatious. They often express strong emotions in everyday situations. It is a disorder primarily characterized by pervasive and excessive emotions.

Histrionic personality disorder is different from other personality disorders in the sense that people with this disorder can often function at high levels and even become successfully both at work and socially. However, if histrionic personality disorder becomes worse then it may affect a person’s romantic relationships and/or their ability to overcome losses and failures.

Treatment is often sought by individuals with the disorder when they suffer from depression after a romantic relationship ends. Most individuals with this disorder fail to see their situation realistically since the symptoms of the conditions cause them to dramatize and exaggerate. When the individual fails or is disappointed they typically blames others. Often they have frequent job changes, become bored easily and cannot deal with frustration. Some individuals may put themselves in risky situations because they want excitement and to be the center of attention. These factors also lead to an increased chance of developing depression sometime in their life.

History

The idea of a hysterical personality disorder was started in the mid-20th century. The first definition of histrionic personality disorder is very similar to the current definition.

Cause of Histrionic Personality Disorder

Currently psychologists do not know the cause of histrionic personality disorder. However, they believe childhood events and genetics may be involved in the development of the disorder. The disorder is found more frequently in women then it is in men. However, some psychologists believe this is because the symptoms of the disorder are more socially unacceptable for women then they are for men which leads to a higher diagnosis.

Signs and Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

The following are some of the signs and symptoms psychologists use to diagnosis individuals with histrionic personality disorder:

• The need to constantly find approval or reassurance.
• Exaggerated displays of emotion that may be accompanied by excessive dramatics.
• An exaggerated sensitivity to disapproval or criticism.
• Inappropriate seductive behavior or appearance.
• An exaggerated concern with regards to physical appearance.
• A constant need to be at the center of attention during group activities.
• A frustration with delayed gratification or a low tolerance of such.
• Emotional states that are rapidly shifting which may make the person appear shallow to others around them.
• Other people can often easily influence their opinions, even if these opinions are difficult to back up with details and facts.
• They often believe relationships are more intimate than they really are.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Most of the time diagnosis is based upon a person’s appearance, behavior and history. A psychological evaluation is performed to confirm the findings and then a person is diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder. There is no official test that is used by psychologists to diagnosis this disorder. Since most of the diagnosis criteria are subjective there is a high number of people that are wrongly diagnosed while still other who have the disorder are not properly diagnosed.

Treatment for this condition is usually not necessary unless the disorder causes depression. The depression is usually as a result of dissolved romantic relationships. Few medications are effective enough to affect histrionic personality disorder, but there are medications that can be helpful with secondary symptoms such as depression. Psychotherapy is often the best method of treatment for this disorder.

Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder NOS

Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

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