Narcissistic personality disorder (patient information)
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Narcissistic personality disorder |
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Where to find medical care for Narcissistic personality disorder? |
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Narcissistic personality disorder On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Narcissistic personality disorder |
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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.
Overview
Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which people have an inflated sense of self-importance and an extreme preoccupation with themselves.
What are the symptoms of Narcissistic personality disorder?
A person with narcissistic personality disorder may:
- 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
What causes Narcissistic personality disorder?
- The causes of this disorder are unknown.
- An overly sensitive personality and parenting problems may affect the development of this disorder.
Diagnosis
Like other personality disorders, narcissistic personality disorder is diagnosed based on a psychological evaluation and the history and severity of the symptoms.
Treatment options
Psychotherapy (for example, talk therapy) may help the affected person relate to other people in a more positive and compassionate way.
Where to find medical care for Narcissistic personality disorder?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Condition
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The outcome depends on the severity of the disorder.
Possible complications
- Alcohol or other drug dependence
- Relationship, work, and family problems