Therapist Unlimited Blog

A better understanding of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Medical experts define Narcissistic Personality Disorder are those persons who have too much love on their appearance and skills.
Patients suffering from this type of disorder want to project to themselves and others that they are perfect in almost every aspect of their lives.
Those persons suffering from this type personality disorder want to make it appear that they are perfect since they are actually insecure with their appearance and have a low self-esteem.
Based on study Narcissistic Personality Disorder is more common on men than women are which is why many male politicians, wealthy businessmen, movie producers, surgeons, and trial attorneys are having problems with this type of medical disorder.
The illusion of "greatness" they project to others is most commonly shattered by some substantial threat to their ego such as a physical illness, loss of a job, loss of a relationship, or depression when sensing that their lives are actually quite empty even though they may have acquired much material success.
This loss precipitates a panicky sensation that "my world is falling to pieces," and the patient feels that his/her life is unravelling.

Persons suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder love to project themselves as perfect to hide their insecurity within.

Symptoms

   A. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
   B. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
   C. 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).
   D. Requires excessive admiration.
   E. Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
   F. Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
   G. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
   H. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
   I. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes.

Treatments

Personality disorders are typically some of the most challenging mental disorders to treat, since they are, by definition, an integral part of what defines an individual and their self-perceptions.
Treatment most often focuses on increasing coping skills and interpersonal relationship skills through psychotherapy.
 

Psychotherapy

Most psychiatrists will, as a practical matter, treat most of their severely narcissistic patients for symptoms related to crises and relatively external Axis I diagnoses, rather than in an effort to address the personality disorder itself. The therapist must be aware of the importance of narcissism in helping to sustain the patient’s self-image, of refraining from confronting the need for self-aggrandizement, and of helping the patient use his or her narcissistic characteristics to develop a self-image based upon genuine positive self-esteem rather than out of fears of inadequacy. Those patients who do not terminate treatment after symptom relief has been obtained may wish to receive help for some of the problems related to their personality disorder, such as interpersonal difficulties or depression.
If possible, long-term individual psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for those with narcissistic personality disorder because it helps to establish a strong therapeutic alliance between therapist and patient. Yet, even within this framework, expectations should focus on small changes in personality traits as opposed to expecting large changes as being possible.
Goals in therapy should focus on helping the patient develop some empathy for others by learning to appreciate other’s feelings and points of view, acknowledging his/her "specialness" while helping the patient learn how to put it into perspective, and helping the patient learn how to appropriately handle slights and rejections from others without feeling one’s sense of self as being extremely threatened. These goals can all be developed within the safety of a strong therapy relationship between therapists and patient so that when the patient’s vulnerabilities are exposed, the therapist can help the patient feel okay about these vulnerabilities while gently putting the patient’s exaggerated sense of self-importance back in perspective.
Group therapy for those with narcissistic personality disorder tends to be ineffectual. Usually in a therapy group, narcissists will tend to dominate the group or tire other group members with their list of accomplishments and grandeur. Because they do not respond well to critical feedback, narcissists are likely to drop out of group therapy once others start providing feedback about their behaviour. On the other hand, on the other hand, the other group members might drop out of the group because they get tired of the narcissists dominating the therapy.
 

Hospitalization

The hospitalization of patients with severe Narcissistic Personality occurs frequently. For some, such as those who are quite impulsive or self-destructive, or who have poor reality testing, this is the result of Axis I symptoms that are overlaid upon the personality disorder. Hospitalizations should be brief, and the treatment specific to the particular symptom involved.
Another group of patients for whom hospitalization is indicated, provided long-term residential treatment is available, are those who have poor motivation for outpatient treatment, chronic destructive acting out, and chaotic life-styles. An inpatient program can offer an intensive milieu, which includes individual psychotherapy, family involvement, and a specialized residential environment. The structure is physically and emotionally secures enough to sustain the patient with severe ego weakness throughout the course of expressive, conflict-solving psychotherapy. The ultimate goals are of affecting a more integrated, cohesive self-concept that is less vulnerable to slights, criticisms, rejections, or general blows to self-esteem.

Source: http://www.mentalhelp.net