Researchers estimate that about 1% of people have the condition. Histrionic personality disorder is relatively rare. How common is histrionic personality disorder? People assigned female at birth (AFAB) are more commonly diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder than people assigned male at birth (AMAB), but researchers think that people AMAB may be underdiagnosed. Histrionic personality disorder usually begins in your late teens or early 20s. Who does histrionic personality disorder affect? Histrionic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions called “Cluster B” personality disorders, which involve dramatic and erratic behavior. People with histrionic personality disorder often don’t realize their behavior and way of thinking may be problematic. They have an overwhelming desire to be noticed and often behave dramatically or inappropriately to get attention. The word “histrionic” means “dramatic or theatrical.”įor people with histrionic personality disorder, their self-esteem depends on the approval of others and doesn’t come from a true feeling of self-worth. Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a mental health condition marked by intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. People with HPD often don’t realize their behavior and way of thinking are problematic. Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a condition marked by intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image.