Histrionic Personality Disorder Treatment in Bucks County

Integrated IOP Care for HPD at Hope Springs Behavioral Health

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is a Cluster B personality disorder defined by persistent attention-seeking behavior and intense, rapidly shifting emotional expression. Most people who come to us for HPD treatment didn’t arrive with that diagnosis. They came in for depression, strained relationships, or anxiety, and through a thorough clinical assessment, a clearer picture emerged. At Hope Springs Behavioral Health, HPD treatment isn’t offered as a standalone session or referred out to a separate provider. Everything happens inside our Intensive Outpatient Program, where three board-certified psychiatrists work side by side with licensed therapists on a single, coordinated treatment plan.

We’re a family-owned outpatient mental health center licensed by both the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), and accredited by The Joint Commission. We accept most commercial insurance plans and Bucks County Medicaid/HealthChoices, so cost and coverage don’t have to be the reason someone waits.

If you or someone you care about is showing signs of HPD, our team can help. Call (215) 491-9900 to ask questions and find out how our program works before making any commitment.

Recognizing HPD in Everyday Life

HPD can be hard to identify because many of its features look like personality traits rather than a clinical pattern. People with HPD are often outgoing, socially engaged, and expressive, which makes the disorder easy to overlook. What distinguishes HPD is the persistence of these patterns and the distress they cause over time.

Common signs that bring people to treatment include:

• Discomfort when not the center of attention, even in settings where that’s a reasonable expectation
• Rapidly shifting emotions that feel genuine but strike others as shallow or theatrical
• Chronic need for approval or reassurance that strains friendships, romantic relationships, and workplace dynamics
• Difficulty sustaining deep relationships despite a strong desire for connection
• Patterns that affect self-esteem and work performance in ways the person may not fully recognize

HPD typically becomes apparent in late adolescence or early adulthood. Without treatment, the cycle of attention-seeking, rejection, and emotional distress can intensify, and secondary conditions like depression or anxiety often develop alongside it. A professional assessment is the necessary first step toward an accurate diagnosis and a path forward.

How We Treat Histrionic Personality Disorder

Psychotherapy is the primary, evidence-based approach to treating HPD. There’s no medication approved specifically for the disorder, though our three on-staff psychiatrists can evaluate and manage medication when co-occurring symptoms like anxiety or depression are part of the picture. That coordination happens within the same program, not through an outside referral.

Our IOP brings together several clinical modalities in a structured format:

• Individual therapy using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients recognize distorted thinking patterns and build healthier emotional responses
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, particularly emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, which address the patterns HPD creates directly
• Group therapy, which offers a structured setting to practice social skills, receive real-time feedback, and work on connection in a supported environment
• Family therapy as a standard IOP component, not an add-on, with sessions open to all family members over 12
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management conducted by our three board-certified psychiatrists when clinically appropriate

We also offer marriage counseling alongside the IOP for clients whose relationship dynamics are central to what they’re working through. Every treatment plan is built around the individual’s specific history, goals, and clinical needs, and our clinicians reassess and adjust it as progress is made. The IOP typically runs between four weeks and four months depending on clinical need. The goal isn’t to reshape someone’s personality. It’s to reduce distress, build self-awareness, and support more stable and fulfilling relationships.