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Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, affecting approximately 1.8% of the population, with a higher prevalence in women. Contributing factors include childhood trauma, cultural influences, and unresolved emotional conflicts, which can lead to maladaptive behaviors. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy and medication for co-occurring disorders, aiming to improve emotional regulation and social relationships.

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Denisse Moreno
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6 views

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, affecting approximately 1.8% of the population, with a higher prevalence in women. Contributing factors include childhood trauma, cultural influences, and unresolved emotional conflicts, which can lead to maladaptive behaviors. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy and medication for co-occurring disorders, aiming to improve emotional regulation and social relationships.

Uploaded by

Denisse Moreno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Histrionic Personality

Disorder
Paulina H., Denisse M., Nubia L., Valentina O
PSYC 4312 – Advanced Abnormal Psychology, Dr. Carlos M. Vargas
According to the American Psychiatric Association
(2013), Histrionic Personality Disorder is a
widespread pattern of excessive emotionality and
attention-seeking conduct that manifests in a
Introduction to variety of settings and starts in early adulthood

Histrionic A number of personality disorders, including HPD,


Personality are characterized by persistent, maladaptive
behaviors that greatly depart from social norms
(Comer & Comer, 2022)
Disorder
HPD is relatively rare, with prevalence estimates
around 1.8% of the general population (Comer &
Comer, 2022)
Women are diagnosed with HPD more often than males, however
this could be partially due to biases in diagnostic criteria based
on gender (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

At least five of the following requirements


must be fulfilled

1. Feeling awkward not being the center of attention.

DSM-5 Diagnostic
Criteria (Part 1) 2. Interactions frequently characterized by
inappropriately indicative or alluring sexual behavior.

3. Exhibits quickly changing and unstable emotional


responses.

4. Consistently attracts attention with physical


appearance.
Other requirements include

5. The speech lacks detail and is overly vague

DSM-5 Diagnostic 6. Exaggerated emotional responses and self-


Criteria (Part 2) dramatization

7. Is suggestible, meaning that others can easily impact


them

8. Thinks connections are more personal than they


actually are
Biological Perspective

Important Finding
Childhood trauma, especially sexual abuse, may
have a role in the emergence of HPD in later life

Why?
Stress-regulation-related changes in brain function
and early-learned behaviors (Yalch, Ceroni, &
Dehart, 2022)

Trauma may lead to the development of attention-


seeking and emotional dysregulation as coping
mechanisms

Alterations in brain function related to stress


regulation may also play a role, HPD susceptibility
may also be increased by a genetic propensity to
emotional dysregulation (Yalch et al., 2022).

This Photo by Unkno wn Author is licensed under CC BY-SA


Psychodynamic Perspective

Freudian Theory
Unresolved unconscious tensions may be the root
cause of HPD

Fundamental Reasons
Neglect or emotional deprivation during childhood

Overall, the creation of defense systems to handle


outside threats

Behavioral Patterns
These individuals may overreact emotionally to
situations and struggle to form deep, meaningful
relationships (Comer & Comer, 2022).
Social & Cultural Factors

Cultural Norms
According to Lumen Learning (n.d.), cultural values
that place a high value on uncontrolled emotional
outbursts and attention-seeking conduct can have
an impact on HPD symptoms

Learned Behaviors
HPD inclinations can be reinforced in early contexts
that promote dramatic behavior
Treatment Options

Psychotherapy
inappropriate conduct can be Medication
addressed with the aid of Used to treat co-occurring
psychodynamic techniques and disorders such as depression or
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy anxiety
(CBT)
Social relationships and emotional regulation
are significantly impacted by HPD, a complex
personality disorder

Key insights into its development are provided


Conclusion by biological and psychodynamic viewpoints,
which highlight the significance of trauma,
learned behaviors, and unresolved conflicts

Gaining knowledge about HPD could improve


treatment strategies and lessen the stigma
associated with personality disorders.
Citations
1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
American Psychiatric Publishing.

2. Comer, R. J., & Comer, J. S. (2022). Personality Disorders. In Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology (10th ed., pp.
420–422). Worth Publishers and Macmillan Learning.

3. Emmelkamp, P. M. G., & Meyerbröker, K. (2020). The narcissistic and histrionic personality disorders. In
Personality Disorders (2nd ed., pp. 115–128). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351055901-7

4. Lumen Learning. (n.d.). Histrionic Personality Disorder. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-


herkimer-abnormalpsych/chapter/histrionic-personality-disorder
2/#:~:text=Sociocultural%20Causes:,value%20uninhibited%20displays%20of%20emotion

5. Yalch, M. M., Ceroni, D. B., & Dehart, R. M. (2022). Influence of Child Abuse and Neglect on Histrionic Personality
Pathology. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 24(1), 111–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2022.2119458

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