Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and seeking attention, 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.
The treatment consists of psychotherapy sessions with the psychologist and, if the person also suffers from anxiety or depression, it may be necessary to carry out a pharmacological treatment prescribed by the psychiatrist.
What symptoms
According to the DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the characteristic symptoms that can occur in a person with Histrionic Personality Disorder are:
- Discomfort when not in the spotlight; Inappropriate behavior with other people, often characterized by a sexually provocative or seductive approach; Superficiality and rapid changes in the expression of emotions; Use of physical appearance to attract attention; Recurrence to an excessively impressionistic speech, but with few details; exaggerated, dramatic and theatrical emotional expression; easily influenced by others or by circumstances; considers relationships more intimate than they really are.
Meet other personality disorders.
Possible causes
It is not known for certain what is at the origin of this personality disorder, but it is thought to be related to hereditary factors and childhood experiences.
How the treatment is done
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 that 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 learn to manage them in a way more positive.
If this disorder is associated with anxiety or depression, it may be necessary to use medications, which must be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
