A person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour form their personality. A person with Histrionic Personality Disorder thinks, feels and behaves in ways which cause 'dramas' for themself and others. Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterised by attention seeking, dramatic behaviour, and excessive emotionality. Adults who are young have Histrionic Personality Disorder more than adults who are older. A person with Histrionic Personality Disorder may display symptoms of another Personality Disorder (PD).

 

Symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder

The symptoms of Histrionic Personality Disorder include discomfort when not the centre of attention, egocentricity, exaggerated expression of shallow emotions, rapid shifts in emotions, and self dramatisation. A person with Histrionic Personality Disorder craves attention and excitement and manipulates others to get them. All Personality Disorders, including Histrionic Personality Disorder, are considered either a definable mental health problem or a label for socially unacceptable behaviour.

Causes of Histrionic Personality Disorder

The causes of Histrionic Personality Disorder can be related to an underlying conflict around acceptance by members of the opposite sex, lack of maternal attention, childhood seeking of paternal approval and attention, personal relationship problems with members of the opposite sex, inconsistent parental attitudes that conveyed sex is both dirty and exciting, or parenting that was cold and controlling. Risk factors for Histrionic Personality Disorder include being divorced, never married, separated, or widowed.

 

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