Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTherapiesMedicationAlternative TreatmentsLifestyleOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Therapies
Medication
Alternative Treatments
Lifestyle
Outlook
Histrionic personality disorder(HPD) treatment usually begins with psychotherapy. Sometimes medications are prescribed to help with distressing symptoms like depression andanxiety.
People with HPD have unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. Their self-esteem depends on the approval of others, and they often behave dramatically to get attention.People with this personality disorder often don’t think anything is wrong. Therefore, the first step toward getting better is determining that you need help.
This article goes over histrionic personality disorder treatments and some of the things that can be done at home to treat this condition.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the treatment of choice for histrionic personality disorder.The goal of treatment is to help you uncover and become more aware of the motivations and fears associated with your problematic thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy can help you learn how to relate to others in more positive ways.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a form of psychotherapy that can help someone with HPD recognize attention-seeking behaviors and thought patterns. The goal of CBT is to help you modify these behaviors and develop coping skills and improved self-esteem.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is sometimes used to treat HPD, though it is not usually a first-line treatment. Group therapy provides an opportunity to receive immediate feedback from others, which can help someone with HPD develop healthy communication and social skills.
Supportive Therapy
Supportive therapy is often recommended for people with histrionic personality disorder because this approach is encouraging, reassuring, and non-threatening.This type of psychotherapy can help you reduce emotional distress, improve self-esteem, and enhance coping skills through attentive and sympathetic listening.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy has also been found to be a successful treatment for histrionic personality disorder.The goal is to help you resolve underlying unconscious conflicts so you can understand yourself and your behaviors better.
You may be encouraged to substitute excessively dramatic speech for a more adaptive action or behavior so you can better communicate with others. You will also learn to recognize how hypersexual, attention-seeking behaviors are not helpful, and discover new, healthier ways to develop self-esteem.
Prescription Medications
Your healthcare provider may prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotic medications to help with the mood swings, anger, anxiety, and depression that come with this mental health disorder.
Medications that can be used to treat histrionic personality disorder include:
You and your medical providers can discuss which alternative treatments may be effective for helping with your symptoms.
For example, for depressive symptoms, alternative treatments can include:
You shouldn’t begin any new alternative treatments without first discussing them with your healthcare provider because supplements can have side effects and interfere with medications or other supplements you’re taking.
Lifestyle changes that support your overall health are recommended. This includes the basics of self-care, such as:
Since histrionic personality disorder is tied to low self-esteem, practicing strategies that can help build a healthy sense of self-worth may also help with this condition. These may include:
How to Seek HelpIf you or a loved one are struggling with histrionic personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
How to Seek Help
If you or a loved one are struggling with histrionic personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Outlook for Histrionic Personality Disorder
People with HPD are more likely to develop other mental health conditions, such as depression, eating disorders, or problems with substance use.Thus, it’s important for people with HPD to seek therapy so they can develop better self-esteem and learn to have healthy relationships.
Summary
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, Schneider N, Sachse R, Kramer U.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2023;30(1):64-72. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769Yang M.Overview on histrionic personality disorder.Commun Humanit Res. 2023;7(1):221-226. doi:10.54254/2753-7064/7/20230886Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463Salehian N, Moradi F.The effect of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on increasing the psychological well-being of patients with histrionic personality disorder (HPD).J New Ideas Psychol. 2023;15(19):1-6.Bozzatello P, Rocca P, Bellino S.Combination OFOMEGA3 fatty acids and valproic acid in treatment of borderline personality disorder: A follow-up study.Clin Drug Investig. 2018;38(4):367-372. doi:10.1007/s40261-017-0617-xWinchester Hospital. Health Library.Folate.Maffei ME. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP):Natural occurrence, analysis, biosynthesis, biotechnology, physiology and toxicology.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):181. doi:10.3390/ijms22010181National Health Service.Raising low self-esteem.Candel OS.Review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integr Psychol. 2019;82(3):39-44.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, Schneider N, Sachse R, Kramer U.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2023;30(1):64-72. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769Yang M.Overview on histrionic personality disorder.Commun Humanit Res. 2023;7(1):221-226. doi:10.54254/2753-7064/7/20230886Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463Salehian N, Moradi F.The effect of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on increasing the psychological well-being of patients with histrionic personality disorder (HPD).J New Ideas Psychol. 2023;15(19):1-6.Bozzatello P, Rocca P, Bellino S.Combination OFOMEGA3 fatty acids and valproic acid in treatment of borderline personality disorder: A follow-up study.Clin Drug Investig. 2018;38(4):367-372. doi:10.1007/s40261-017-0617-xWinchester Hospital. Health Library.Folate.Maffei ME. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP):Natural occurrence, analysis, biosynthesis, biotechnology, physiology and toxicology.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):181. doi:10.3390/ijms22010181National Health Service.Raising low self-esteem.Candel OS.Review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integr Psychol. 2019;82(3):39-44.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, Schneider N, Sachse R, Kramer U.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2023;30(1):64-72. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769Yang M.Overview on histrionic personality disorder.Commun Humanit Res. 2023;7(1):221-226. doi:10.54254/2753-7064/7/20230886Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463Salehian N, Moradi F.The effect of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on increasing the psychological well-being of patients with histrionic personality disorder (HPD).J New Ideas Psychol. 2023;15(19):1-6.Bozzatello P, Rocca P, Bellino S.Combination OFOMEGA3 fatty acids and valproic acid in treatment of borderline personality disorder: A follow-up study.Clin Drug Investig. 2018;38(4):367-372. doi:10.1007/s40261-017-0617-xWinchester Hospital. Health Library.Folate.Maffei ME. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP):Natural occurrence, analysis, biosynthesis, biotechnology, physiology and toxicology.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):181. doi:10.3390/ijms22010181National Health Service.Raising low self-esteem.Candel OS.Review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integr Psychol. 2019;82(3):39-44.
Babl A, Gómez Penedo JM, Berger T, Schneider N, Sachse R, Kramer U.Change processes in psychotherapy for patients presenting with histrionic personality disorder.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2023;30(1):64-72. doi:10.1002/cpp.2769
Yang M.Overview on histrionic personality disorder.Commun Humanit Res. 2023;7(1):221-226. doi:10.54254/2753-7064/7/20230886
Novais F, Araújo A, Godinho P.Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder.Front Psychol. 2015;6:1463. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463
Salehian N, Moradi F.The effect of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on increasing the psychological well-being of patients with histrionic personality disorder (HPD).J New Ideas Psychol. 2023;15(19):1-6.
Bozzatello P, Rocca P, Bellino S.Combination OFOMEGA3 fatty acids and valproic acid in treatment of borderline personality disorder: A follow-up study.Clin Drug Investig. 2018;38(4):367-372. doi:10.1007/s40261-017-0617-x
Winchester Hospital. Health Library.Folate.
Maffei ME. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP):Natural occurrence, analysis, biosynthesis, biotechnology, physiology and toxicology.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):181. doi:10.3390/ijms22010181
National Health Service.Raising low self-esteem.
Candel OS.Review on the present condition of histrionic personality disorder.Bull Integr Psychol. 2019;82(3):39-44.
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