Health: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

[Ali Admin]

This information may be useful for preparing young people for life in a modern, civilised society by helping them recognise the disorder known as NPD. Don't have nightmares, kids, but stay alert!

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is defined as "an all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration or adulation and lack of empathy, usually beginning by early adulthood and present in various contexts", such as family life and work.

According to the DSM-IV-TR, a patient must exhibit five or more of the following traits in order to be diagnosed with NPD:

• grandiose sense of self-importance
• preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
• belief 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)
• need for excessive admiration
• sense of entitlement
• takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
• lacks empathy
• often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
• shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

NPD is a type of psychological personality disorder characterized primarily by grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Narcissism occurs in a spectrum of severity, but the pathologically narcissistic tend to be extremely self-absorbed, intolerant of others’ perspectives, insensitive to others’ needs and indifferent to the effect of their own egocentric behavior.

It is not uncommon for persons with this disorder to frequently compare themselves to the accomplished, well-known and well-to-do. They feel entitled to great praise, attention, and deferential treatment by others. Those with NPD crave the limelight and are quick to abandon situations in which they are not the center of attention. Defects of empathy may cause narcissists to misperceive other people's speech and actions, causing them to believe that they are well-liked and respected despite a history of negative personal interactions.

Those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder are often ambitious and capable, but are unable cope with setbacks, disagreements or criticism. These emotional limitations, along with lack of empathy, make it difficult for such individuals to work well with others and to build a successful career (Kernberg 2003, 2004, APA 2000).

Source

[llondel]

Damn! Not up to five yet, must try harder and work on a few more.

[Ali Admin]

Sorry. llondel, but you have FAILED miserably by admitting you have to try harder to be THE BEST (that's me, by the way).

[Spartacus]

• grandiose sense of self-importance
• preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
• belief 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)
• need for excessive admiration
• sense of entitlement
• takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
• lacks empathy
• often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
• shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

Reads like the person specification from a job advert for a politician!

[Earthtracer]

I have clearly been suffering from this for many years. How sad!

[Ali Admin]

We're all suffering from this one.

Is Free Thinking A Mental Illness?

Is nonconformity and freethinking a mental illness? According to the newest addition of the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), it certainly is. The manual identifies a new mental illness called “oppositional defiant disorder” or ODD. Defined as an “ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile and defiant behavior,” symptoms include questioning authority, negativity, defiance, argumentativeness, and being easily annoyed.

The Soviet Union used new “mental illnesses” for political repression. People who didn’t accept the beliefs of the Communist Party developed a new type of schizophrenia. They suffered from the delusion of believing communism was wrong. They were isolated, forcefully medicated, and put through repressive “therapy” to bring them back to sanity.

They're coming to take us away ha ha

[Diane]

They're coming to take us away (delete the ha ha!)

Diane

[Earthtracer]

Ach, nothing a frontal lobotomy and some intensive re-training won't cure!

[glenngranter]

Eureka! - It's the discovery of the illness that seems to afflict most of those in power - And it's the answer as to why they make stupid rules - They don't really mean free thinkers - We are ok folks - You must have read it wrong - Arghhh, a bloke has just tripped up and spiked me in the leg with his umbrella - Got to go and help him get up.......

[Diane]

If he injected what I think he might have injected into your leg, Glenn, I doubt YOU could get up.

Nice to be helpful though.

Diane