What is Histrionic personality disorder?
'''Histrionic personality disorder''' ('''HPD''') is a [[cluster B]] [[personality disorder]]. The name is derived from [[Latin language|Latin]] ''histrio'', which is usually translated as [[actor]]. People with this condition constantly seek to direct attention to their own person. Very often they also flirt and try to [[seduction|seduce]] others in inappropriate ways to get this attention, for example by being [[exhibitionism|exhibitionist]]. These attempts at seduction usually start when they are teenagers. Histrionics feel a strong need to receive a lot of [[appreciation]], [[admiration]] and [[reassurance]]. HPD affects about four times as many [[women]] (4%) as [[men]] (1%).<ref name=seligman>{{cite book | last = Seligman | first = Martin E.P. | title=Abnormal Psychology | publisher=W. W. Norton & Company| year=1984 | chapter=Chapter 11 | isbn=0-393-94459-X}}</ref> It has a [[prevalence]] of between two and three percent in the general population, and between ten and fifteen percent in mental health institutions.<ref name=dsmiv>{{cite book|url=http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/content.aspx?bookid=22&sectionid=1892638#4017|chapter=Chapter 16: Personality Disorders|title=DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders|publisher=American Psychiatric Publishing|year=2000|access-date=2013-03-26|archive-date=2011-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123171833/http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/content.aspx?bookid=22&sectionid=1892638#4017|url-status=dead}}</ref> HPD lies in the dramatic cluster of personality disorders.<ref name=WebMD>{{cite web | last =Bienenfeld|first=David| publisher=WebMD | title =Personality Disorders | url=http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3472.htm | year = 2006 |work=Medscape Reference| accessdate=10 January 2007}}</ref> People with HPD have a high need for attention, make loud and inappropriate appearances, [[exaggerate]] their behaviors and emotions, and crave stimulation.<ref name=WebMD /> They may exhibit sexually provocative behavior, express strong emotion