Personality Disorder of the Week



Narcissistic Personality Disorder

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Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:



-has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

-is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

-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 (or institutions)

-requires excessive admiration

-has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

-is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

-lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

-is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

-shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

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Associated Features

-Depressed Mood

-Dramatic/Erratic/Antisocial Personality

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Differential Diagnosis



Histrionic Personality Disorder; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder; Schizotypal Personality Disorder; Paranoid Personality Disorder; Manic Episodes; Hypomanic Episodes; Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition; symptoms that may develop in association with chronic substance use.