Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, including an excessive need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness, usually beginning in early adulthood. The essential feature of histrionic personality disorder is an excessive pattern of emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. These individuals are lively, dramatic, enthusiastic, and flirtatious. They may be inappropriately sexually provocative, express strong emotions with an impressionistic style, and be easily influenced by others. Individuals with this disorder may have difficulty achieving emotional intimacy in romantic relationships. Without being aware of it, they often act out a role (e.g., "victim" or "princess"). They may seek to control their partner through emotional manipulation or seductiveness on one level, whereas displaying a marked dependency on them at another level. Individuals with this disorder often have impaired relationships with same-sex friends because of their sexually provocative behavior or their demands for constant attention. They crave novelty, stimulation, and excitement and have a tendency to become bored with their usual routine. Although they often initiate a job or project with great enthusiasm, their interest may lag quickly. The actual risk of suicide is not known, but individuals with this disorder are at increased risk for suicidal gestures and threats to get attention and coerce better care giving. In many cases, people with histrionic personality disorder have good social skills; however, they tend to use these skills to manipulate others so that they can be the center of attention. A person with this disorder might also:

• Be uncomfortable unless he or she is the center of attention

• Dress provocatively and/or exhibit inappropriately seductive or flirtatious behavior

• Shift emotions rapidly

• Act very dramatically as though performing before an audience with exaggerated emotions and expressions, yet appears to lack sincerity

• Be overly concerned with physical appearance

• Constantly seek reassurance or approval

• Be gullible and easily influenced by others

• Be excessively sensitive to criticism or disapproval

• Have a low tolerance for frustration and be easily bored by routine, often beginning projects without finishing them or skipping from one event to another

• Not think before acting

• Make rash decisions

• Be self-centered and rarely show concern for others

• Have difficulty maintaining relationships, often seeming fake or shallow in their dealings with others

• Threaten or attempt suicide to get attention

In general, people with histrionic personality disorder do not believe they need therapy. They also tend to exaggerate their feelings and dislike routine, which makes following a treatment plan difficult. However, they might seek help if depression occurs (possibly associated with a loss or a failed relationship) due to problems caused by their thinking and behavior, or the development of addiction.

Histrionic Personality falls in the class of personality disorders formally known as Cluster B Personality Disorders (dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders) A Cluster Personality disorder is one with symptoms of more than one of the four types identified as Custer B. The Cluster B Personality Disorders are:

• Antisocial Personality Disorder: "pervasive disregard for the law and the rights of others."

• Borderline Personality Disorder: extreme "black and white" thinking, instability in relationships, self-image, identity and behavior

• Histrionic Personality Disorder: "pervasive attention-seeking behavior including inappropriate sexual seductiveness and shallow or exaggerated emotions"

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder: "a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy"