Patrick Ngesa

 ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER [Name of Student] [Institutional Affiliation] [Date of Submission] The American Psychiatric Association’s handbook on mental and personality disorders defines the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) as an erratic mental condition that increases self regard and perceptions of self-importance. Specifically, this condition increases obsessions with personal feelings of success, beauty, power, and specialty.1 On the other hand, it makes affected individuals spiteful and resentful towards others. They become competitive and unwilling to lose in any contest. At the same time, they extend manipulative and controlling tendencies on others for their personal gains.2 Caused by extremely oppressive and libertarian early childhood experiences, NPD leads to pervasive social patterns that affect individual emotional functioning and social interpersonal relationships. Most theories explaining the causes and origins of NPD depend on biopsychosocial models of causation. Notably, no distinguished cause has been established for the condition. However, speculative research outcomes outline the roles of biological, psychological, and social factors in causing NPD. Despite probabilities of the condition being inheritable, emotional and social predispositions still play a major role in determining whether one becomes narcissistic or not. Individuals who live extremely oppressive and libertarian lives in early childhood remain at risk of developing NPD.3 Such individuals get abused or pampered by their parents or caregivers. Because the emotions they go through are extremely oppressive or pleasant, they develop mechanisms of repelling or retaining such feelings. Thus, narcissists develop oppressive tendencies to repel thoughts of oppression. On the other hand, they preoccupy themselves with self-importance to maintain feelings of pampering and high regard.4 The most common and evident symptoms of NPD concern an individual’s character and their relationships with others. They amplify and overstate their skillfulness and dexterity. Most of them believe that they are triumphant, as a result, they emphasize being unique and expect respect in return. Similarly, they develop a strong feeling of entitlement to positions of higher stature. Most of them impose themselves as prefects of the rest and proceed to exploit the perceived subject. The most notable negative trait is their lack of empathy and vicious attitude towards other people. In a narcissist’s world, they always win. They make all the decisions and they punish anyone who questions their authority.5 Both the diagnosis and treatment of NPD get implemented by psychologists and psychotherapists. The inventory diagnostic test is composed of at least forty questions on how individuals regard others against themselves. Some of the issues considered in this test include levels of assertion, modesty, influential abilities, success, and pride among others. These get supplemented with images considered to indicate emotions targeting similar beliefs. To be confirmed as a case of NPD, patients have to undergo various medical tests. Some of such tests perform the function of ruling out other medical conditions that share symptoms with NPD. After diagnosis, psychologists and psychotherapists use counseling to correct NPD. This gets implemented through psychotherapy done individually and in groups.6 In conclusion, NPD is an erratic mental condition that increases self regard and perceptions of self-importance. It also increases obsessions with personal feelings of success, beauty, power, and specialty while victims become spiteful and resentful towards others. Although there is no identified cause, doctors link the condition to biopsychosocial factors. These include genetics and social interactions an individual goes through in early childhood. The treatment options available for NPD include psychotherapy done individually and in groups. Bibliography Denise, Davis. Cognitive Therapy of Personality Disorders: A Review of Personalities. New York: The Guilford Press, 2014. Joshua, Miller. The Handbook of Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Theoretical Approaches, Empirical Findings, and Treatments. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Lourie, Reichenberg. Selecting Effective Treatments: A Comprehensive, Systematic Guide to Treating Mental Disorders. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons, 2013. Paul, Links. Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub, 2012. Perry, Hoffman. Understanding and Treating Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide for Professionals and Families. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishers, 2011. Ronningstam, Elsa. Identifying and Understanding the Narcissistic Personality. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.