Narcissitsic personality disorder 

Jesus RamosPsychology

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Narcissistic personality disorder

• Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which people have an inflated sense of self-importance and an extreme preoccupation with themselves.

Signs of narcissism:

• React to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation• Take advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals• Have excessive feelings of self-importance• Exaggerate achievements and talents• Be preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or

ideal love• Have unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment• Need constant attention and admiration• Disregard the feelings of others, and have little ability to feel empathy• Have obsessive self-interest• Pursue mainly selfish goals• Like other personality disorders, narcissistic personality disorder is diagnosed based

on a psychological evaluation and the history and severity of the symptoms

Narcissistic personality disorder personality on the DSM-IV-TR Symptoms of narcissism might develop in the early adult years.(1) Has a huge sense of self-importance.(2) Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.(3) Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people.(4) Requires excessive admiration.(5)Takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own goals.(6) Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others. (7) Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.

Etiology of narcissism 

 the etiology of narcissistic personality disorder which, while not new, is at variance with the commonly held position that this disorder is the outcome of the insufficient gratification of the normal narcissistic needs of infancy and childhood. The contrary thesis is presented: that narcissistic personality disorder is the outcome of narcissistic overgratification during childhood. A fixation to this overgratification interferes with the normal maturation and integration of the superego, leading to difficulties in self-esteem regulation and to a tendency to narcissistic behavior. 

prevalence of narcissism

• Narcissism traits are very common in adolescents.• But, the prevalence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is less

than 1% of the general population• This disorder is more frequent in males (50% to 75%) than

females.• But most adolescents grow out of this behavior.

Unfortunately, for some, this narcissistic behavior persists and intensifies into adulthood; thus they become diagnosed with this disorder.

Treatments for narcissism.

• Medical treatment: such as hospitalization, due to the severity of the disorder that a person could become impulsive or self-destructive. 

•  Individual psycho therapy: help the patient use his or her narcissistic characteristics to reconstitute an intact self-image. The patient must find a balance between being super-human and devalued.

• Group therapy: To help the patient develop a healthy individuality, and to see others as equals.

Prognosis of narcissism

The symptoms have caused and continue to cause significant distress or negative consequences in different aspects of the person's life. This will lead to an inflated sense of self worth, alcohol and drug abuse, and problems with relationships, work, and family.

                     References

Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadellphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 39. websitehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001930/

Narcissistic personality disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Sept. 8, 2009

Young JQ. Narcissistic personality disorder. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/157868696-3/883355123/1701/392.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50017-3--subchapter1_8371. Accessed Sept. 8, 2009.

            Questions for discussion

• What causes narcissistic personality disorder?