BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHistrionic personality disorderPersonality disorder - histrionic; Attention seeking - histrionic personality disorderHistrionic personality disorder is a mental condition in which people act in a very emotional and dramatic way that draws attention to themselves. Causes Causes of histrionic personality disorder are unknown. Genes and early childhood events may be responsible. It is diagnosed more often in women than in men. Doctors believe that more men may have the disorder than are diagnosed.Histrionic personality disorder usually begins by late teens or early 20s. 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 Being easily influenced by other people Being overly concerned with their looks Being overly dramatic and emotional Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval 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 Needing to be the center of attention (self-centeredness) Self-centerednessNarcissistic personality disorder is a mental condition in which a person has: An excessive sense of self-importanceAn extreme preoccupation with the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Quickly changing emotions, which may seem shallow to others Exams and Tests Histrionic personality disorder is diagnosed based on a psychological evaluation. The health care provider will consider how long and how severe the person's symptoms have been.The provider can diagnose histrionic personality disorder by looking at the person's:Behavior Overall appearance Psychological evaluation Treatment People with this condition often seek treatment when they have depression or anxiety from failed romantic relationships or other conflicts with people. Medicine may help the symptoms. Talk therapy is the best treatment for the condition itself. Outlook (Prognosis) Histrionic personality disorder can improve with talk therapy and sometimes medicines. Left untreated, it can cause problems in people's personal lives and prevent them from doing their best at work. Possible Complications Histrionic personality disorder may affect a person's social or romantic relationships. The person may be unable to cope with losses or failures. The person may change jobs often because of boredom and not being able to deal with frustration. They may crave new things and excitement, which leads to risky situations. All of these factors may lead to a higher chance of depression or suicidal thoughts.DepressionDepression is feeling sad, blue, unhappy, or down in the dumps. Most people feel this way once in a while. Major depression is a mood disorder. It...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional See your provider or mental health professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of histrionic personality disorder.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association. Personality disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA, Hopwood CJ. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Fava M, Wilens TE, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 39.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Depression(Symptoms)Depression - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/6/2022 Reviewed By: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Histrionic personality disorderPersonality disorder - histrionic; Attention seeking - histrionic personality disorderHistrionic personality disorder is a mental condition in which people act in a very emotional and dramatic way that draws attention to themselves. Causes Causes of histrionic personality disorder are unknown. Genes and early childhood events may be responsible. It is diagnosed more often in women than in men. Doctors believe that more men may have the disorder than are diagnosed.Histrionic personality disorder usually begins by late teens or early 20s. 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 Being easily influenced by other people Being overly concerned with their looks Being overly dramatic and emotional Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval 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 Needing to be the center of attention (self-centeredness) Self-centerednessNarcissistic personality disorder is a mental condition in which a person has: An excessive sense of self-importanceAn extreme preoccupation with the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Quickly changing emotions, which may seem shallow to others Exams and Tests Histrionic personality disorder is diagnosed based on a psychological evaluation. The health care provider will consider how long and how severe the person's symptoms have been.The provider can diagnose histrionic personality disorder by looking at the person's:Behavior Overall appearance Psychological evaluation Treatment People with this condition often seek treatment when they have depression or anxiety from failed romantic relationships or other conflicts with people. Medicine may help the symptoms. Talk therapy is the best treatment for the condition itself. Outlook (Prognosis) Histrionic personality disorder can improve with talk therapy and sometimes medicines. Left untreated, it can cause problems in people's personal lives and prevent them from doing their best at work. Possible Complications Histrionic personality disorder may affect a person's social or romantic relationships. The person may be unable to cope with losses or failures. The person may change jobs often because of boredom and not being able to deal with frustration. They may crave new things and excitement, which leads to risky situations. All of these factors may lead to a higher chance of depression or suicidal thoughts.DepressionDepression is feeling sad, blue, unhappy, or down in the dumps. Most people feel this way once in a while. Major depression is a mood disorder. It...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional See your provider or mental health professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of histrionic personality disorder.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association. Personality disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA, Hopwood CJ. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Fava M, Wilens TE, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 39.