psychiatric disorders
Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)
Symptoms and Signs of Histrionic Personality Disorder
Patients with histrionic personality disorder continually demand to be the center of attention and often become depressed when they are not. They are often lively, dramatic, enthusiastic, and flirtatious and sometimes charm new acquaintances. These patients often dress and act in inappropriately seductive and provocative ways, not just with potential romantic interests, but in many contexts (eg, work, school). Because of their desire to impress others with their appearance, they are often preoccupied with how they look. Expression of emotion may be shallow (turned off and on too quickly) and exaggerated. They speak dramatically, expressing strong opinions, but with few facts or details to support their opinions. Patients with histrionic personality disorder are easily influenced by others and by current trends. They tend to be too trusting, especially of authority figures who, they think, may be able to solve all their problems. They often think relationships are closer than they are. They crave novelty and bore easily. Thus, they may change jobs and friends frequently. Delayed gratification is frustrating to them, so their actions are often motivated by obtaining immediate satisfaction. Achieving emotional or sexual intimacy may be difficult. Patients may, often without being aware of it, play a role (eg, victim). They may try to control their partner using seductiveness or emotional manipulation while becoming very dependent on the partner. 