Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Literature review Example

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Grade (Feb. 25th, Narcissistic Personality Disorder of the selected disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder refers to a personality disorder in which an individual suffering from the disease is characterized by excessive preoccupation with grandiosity either in fantasy and actual behavior, such that the individual excessively seek for admiration, while demonstrating less empathy for others (Hesse, Schliewe & Thomsen, 2005). The disease occurs in the form of an individual being exceedingly preoccupied with his/her adequacy, power and prestige, in a manner that borders severe egocentrism (Lasch, 1991). The Narcissistic Personality Disorder was traditionally referred to as megalomania, and it is a mental disorder that does not affect a high percentage of the population, often associated with an average of 1% of the total world population. The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic category for the Narcissistic Personality Disorder is under the DSM-IV category, and requires that the patient suffering from the disorder must exhibit at least five among the nine symptoms that are used to define this disorder under the DSM-IV categorization (Ronnigstam, 2011). Nevertheless, it is important that the diagnosis of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder is differentiated from the normal symptoms of grandiosity in that; research has indicated that the pathological form of Narcissistic Personality Disorder occurs in two forms. One form is the grandiose state of mind in young people, which can eventually be corrected by the individuals’ life experiences, while the second form is the less severe grandiosity that persists though to adulthood, majorly characterized by disturbed and turbulent interpersonal relations (Hesse, Schliewe & Thomsen, 2005). Nonetheless, while determining that an individual is suffering from the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the specialists must apply the elimination criteria, to rule out other disorders, in order to finally define the disorder as Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Causative factors of the disorder The Causative factors of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder are not completely known, but the researchers have developed a list of several factors which are the most probable causes of the disorder. First, the Narcissistic Personality Disorder is caused by an oversensitive disposition at birth, for the individual, coupled with excessive admiration of the individual from a very young age, which is not reinforced with balanced feedback (Lasch, 1991). Consequently, an individual is made to feel too important, a temperament that then develops into both internal and external traits that sticks and lives with the individual through to their adulthood. Furtherer, extremes in form of either praise or criticism at the childhood age is a risk factor for causing Narcissistic Personality Disorder, where excessive criticisms for bad behavior makes the child want to redeem themselves through feeling important and adequate, while excessive praising further makes the child to excessively seek admiration, while having little regard for empathy to others (Hesse, Schliewe & Thomsen, 2005). In addition, the overindulgence of the individual by parents, family and peers, accompanied by the overvaluation of the performance and achievement of the individual from a young age is a risk factor for the individual feeling too much powerful and adequate, eventually developing the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Ronnigstam, 2011). The excessive praise over exceptional looks, abilities or talents, especially when it is to an adult, is a risk factor for causing the disorder, while severe emotional abuse of an individual while still a child also contributes to the disorder at adulthood, when the individual is getting over the effects of the childhood emotional abuse (Twenge & Campbell, 2009). Finally, researchers have indicated that learning manipulative behavior from parents is a risk factor causing the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, while the unpredictable and unreliable parenting and care giving also forces an individual to learn feeling adequate from a tender age, which then develops into excessive admiration, as well as exceedingly preoccupation with power and adequacy for an individual, eventually degenerating into the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Hesse, Schliewe & Thomsen, 2005). Diagnosis of the disorder The diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is done through behavioral analysis and assessment, considering that there is no laboratory, genetic tests or blood assessment for this personality disorder (Ronnigstam, 2011). The diagnosis is done by mental health specialists, especially a psychologist or a psychiatrist, who are specifically trained in the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders, considering that a family physician or a regular health specialist may not accurately diagnose and determine this disorder, which borders normalcy and severe grandiosity (Hesse, Schliewe & Thomsen, 2005). The diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is done by the specialists through assessing the individual health and behavioral history, and the symptoms displayed by the individuals currently, comparing the same with a list of predetermined Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The specialist makes a determination whether the individual is suffering from this disorder, if the criteria applied and the comparison done fulfills at least five or more of symptoms amongst the ones showing an excessive grandiose sense of self-importance, preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, severe conviction that an individual is unique and special, constant search for excessive admiration, exceedingly strong sense of entitlement, complete lack of empathy, being exploitative of others, severe envy of others and a wild demonstration of arrogance and haughty behaviors (Twenge & Campbell, 2009). To the extent that an individual is perceived to have demonstrated at least five or more of the symptoms listed above throughout his/her life history, then the individual is diagnosed as suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Lasch, 1991). Treatment of the disorder The treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a long process of psychotherapy with either a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Schema Therapy is the most applicable therapy for the treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, since it entails a combination of cognitive, behavioral and psychoanalytical concepts, which are applied together to establish a system of emotional, physical and perception self-defeating patterns, which then allows the individual suffering from the disorder to recognize and appreciate the destructive nature of the severe egocentrism the individual depicts (Ronnigstam, 2011). The schematic therapy concentrates more on establishing the life patterns’ of an individual, seeking to analyze the childhood needs that were not met, through to adulthood, and then allowing the patient to reflect on every aspect of life history development, while providing the patient with the relevant coping strategies (Hesse, Schliewe & Thomsen, 2005). The pattern change strategies are applied for a long period of time, to enable the patient discover the dangers of the disorder by reflecting through normal life for a long period of time, and then starting to help the patient to discard the attitudes and risky mental disposition, while embracing empathy and valuing others. Nevertheless, cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective amongst the components of the schematic therapy in treating this disorder, since it helps the patient to change the destructive patterns of thinking (Twenge & Campbell, 2009). Survey of current research on the disorder A Recent survey on Narcissistic Personality Disorder was undertaken with the aim of assessing the prevalence of the disorder amongst the patients diagnosed with unipolar disorder, compared to those diagnosed with bipolar disorders (Schiavone et al., 2013). The research found that the prevalence of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder amongst the patients diagnosed with bipolar disorders was at 20.5%, while there was little indication that patients suffering from unipolar disorders also suffered the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Schiavone et al., 2013). Therefore, the findings of the study indicated that the patients suffering from the bipolar disorders were at higher risk of developing the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, while the individuals suffering from the unipolar disorders would be highly affected by other mental disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (Schiavone et al., 2013). The reason why bipolar disorders were highly associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder is because; the excessive optimism of the people suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder may reach a point where some of the normal life circumstances fails to meet the exceedingly grandiose expectation of the individual (Schiavone et al., 2013). This leaves the individual very enthusiastic and excessively optimistic about certain issues, while being severely depressed by the life aspects that did not meet the individual’s expectations. Consequently, the individuals are then forced to sink deep into depression, a situation which then causes the affected individual to manifest bipolar disorder behaviors (Schiavone et al., 2013). References Hesse, M. Schliewe, S. & Thomsen, R. (2005). Rating of personality disorder features in popular movie characters. BMC Psychiatry 5:1-45. Lasch, C. (1991). The Culture of Narcissism. New York: Norton; Revised edition. Ronnigstam E. (2011). Narcissistic personality disorder: A clinical perspective. Journal of Psychiatric Practice 17 (2): 89–99. Schiavone P, et al. (2013). Recent Research On Narcissistic Personality Disorder Internet Mental Health: Editor’s Choice. Psychol Rep., 95(1):121-8. Twenge, J. M. & Campbell, K. W. (2009). The Narcissism Epidemic. New York, Free Press. Read More