Marked discomfort when not being the centre of attention.
DSM-5-TR · Cluster B · personality disorder
Could I have histrionic personality disorder?
Histrionic personality disorder is characterised by a persistent pattern of marked emotionality and attention seeking. Having some of these traits does not mean that someone has a personality disorder: DSM-5-TR requires an enduring, pervasive and clinically significant pattern.
Cluster BDramatic, emotional or erratic patterns
5/8
DSM-5-TR
What are the DSM-5-TR features?
DSM-5-TR requires at least 5 of the 8 specific features, together with the general requirements for a personality disorder.
Specific criteria — paraphrased
Sometimes interacting in an inappropriately sexually seductive or provocative way.
Rapidly shifting and relatively shallow emotional expression.
Regularly using physical appearance to draw attention.
Highly impressionistic speech that conveys strong impressions but few precise details.
Dramatic, theatrical or exaggerated emotional expression.
Being easily influenced by other people, trends or circumstances.
Viewing some relationships as more intimate than they actually are.
Diagnostic reference: DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The wording above is intentionally concise and paraphrased.
The specific criteria are not sufficient on their own
- The pattern is enduring, inflexible and present across different contexts — not only during a crisis or in one particular relationship.
- It causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
- The pattern is stable over time and can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.
- It is not better explained by another mental disorder, a substance/medication effect or a medical condition.
Differential diagnosis
Histrionic, narcissistic, borderline or dependent personality disorder?
All of these disorders may involve strong dependence on other people’s responses, but for different reasons: attention seeking in histrionic personality disorder, admiration in narcissistic personality disorder, abandonment fears and identity instability in borderline personality disorder, and a need to be taken care of in dependent personality disorder.
Clinical assessment
How is the diagnosis made?
Diagnosis is not based on a checklist or a single questionnaire. It requires clinical interviewing, review of the person’s long-term pattern and functional impact across settings, and differential diagnosis. Personality questionnaires and tests can support that assessment.
The 10 specific DSM-5-TR personality disorders
Explore the other personality disorders
Personality disorders can share features and sometimes overlap, making differential diagnosis essential.
Are you wondering about your personality functioning?
An emotional and personality assessment can compare several hypotheses, clarify the overall pattern and avoid drawing conclusions from a few isolated traits.
