{"id":8272,"date":"2021-05-07T23:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T23:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talkspace.com\/mental-health\/conditions\/?page_id=8272"},"modified":"2023-05-01T21:07:05","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T21:07:05","slug":"narcissistic-personality-disorder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.talkspace.com\/mental-health\/conditions\/narcissistic-personality-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Narcissistic Personality Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t
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\r\n\t\t\t\t\tMedically reviewed by<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
Cynthia Catchings<\/h6>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
Cynthia V. Catchings, LCSW-S<\/h6>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t

Reviewed On: June 1, 2021<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div> \r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\t

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How to Treat Narcissistic Personality Disorder<\/h3>\t\t
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Therapy<\/h4>

Narcissistic personality disorder treatment is generally centered around psychotherapy (or talk therapy<\/a>. Talk therapy is effective in helping the individual relate better to others to make their relationships more enjoyable and rewarding. It also helps clarify what is causing certain emotions and what drives a person to compete or have low self-esteem.<\/p>\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tLearn more<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Treatment<\/h4>

Finding the right treatment mix can help people with this disorder relate to others in a more positive way, develop more healthy self-esteem and have more realistic expectations of others, among other benefits. Often, treatment will also help address symptoms occurring alongside narcissistic personality disorder, such as depression or other mental health conditions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tLearn more<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Medication<\/h4>

While there are no specific medications used to treat narcissistic personality disorder, a medical professional may recommend certain medications like antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic drugs to treat underlying symptoms of anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tLearn more<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t

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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are personality disorders?<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Individuals with personality disorders like narcissistic personality disorder experience thought patterns and actions outside of the \u201cnorm,\u201d according to the American Psychiatric Association<\/a>. For instance, they will likely have poor coping skills and difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships with others. These troubling personality traits can get in the way of a person\u2019s relationships, work life, and overall happiness. Those who have a personality disorder are generally not aware they have a problem and likely do not believe the atypical characteristics of their personality are causing issues in their life and\/or impacting their behavior.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder?<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The American Psychiatric Association\u2019s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders<\/a> details nine specific traits that a medical professional uses to diagnose a person with narcissistic personality disorder. These will generally start presenting themselves in early adulthood and can show up in a variety of contexts. A person must indicate five (or more) of the following characteristics to receive a concrete diagnosis:<\/p>\n

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  1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)<\/li>\n
  2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love<\/li>\n
  3. Believes that they are \u201cspecial\u201d and unique and can only be understood by or should be associated with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)<\/li>\n
  4. Requires excessive admiration<\/li>\n
  5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e. unreasonable expectation of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with their expectations)<\/li>\n
  6. Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve their own ends)<\/li>\n
  7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others<\/li>\n
  8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of them<\/li>\n
  9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors and attitudes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While the criteria listed above may appear somewhat straight-forward, there are actually many different types and subtypes of narcissistic personality disorder. In one example, a more grandiose and boisterous \u201covert\u201d subtype will have very little observable anxiety. In contrast, an individual who is more of a \u201ccovert\u201d subtype will be more fragile, thin-skinned and hypersensitive to others\u2019 slights. No matter how these traits present themselves, both types are self-absorbed, and a person can easily fluctuate between the two ends of the spectrum.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen should someone seek help for NPD?<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Because of the nature of narcissistic personality disorder, that person may not think anything is wrong and not want to seek treatment on their own. Exploring treatment options is more likely to be a part of depression symptoms, drug or alcohol use associated with this disorder, and treatment may be difficult to accept because it is perceived as a slight or insult. If you recognize parts of your personality are common to narcissistic personality disorder, or if you are feeling overwhelmed by sadness, a trusted doctor or mental health provider can help with treatment and make strides toward a more balanced perspective.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow can therapy help with NPD?<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Talk therapy can also help someone accept responsibility and learn to:<\/p>\n