What is narcissistic personality disorder?
Narcissism is a term used to describe a focus on the self and
self-admiration that is taken to an extreme. The word “narcissism” comes
from a Greek myth in which a handsome young man named Narcissus sees
his reflection in a pool of water and falls in love with it.
Narcissistic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions
called dramatic personality disorders. People with these disorders have
intense, unstable emotions, and a distorted self-image. Narcissistic
personality disorder is further characterized by an abnormal love of
self, an exaggerated sense of superiority and importance, and a
preoccupation with success and power. However, these attitudes and
behaviors do not reflect true self-confidence. Instead, the attitudes
conceal a deep sense of insecurity and a fragile self-esteem. People
with this personality disorder also tend to set unrealistic goals.
What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?
In many cases, people with narcissistic personality disorder:
- Are self-centered and boastful
- Seek constant attention and admiration
- Consider themselves better than others
- Exaggerate their talents and achievements
- Believe that they are entitled to special treatment
- Are easily hurt but might not show it
- Might take advantage of others to achieve their goals
Other common traits of narcissistic personality disorder include the following:
- Preoccupation with fantasies that focus on unlimited success, power, intelligence, beauty, or love
- Belief that he or she is “special” and unique, and can only be understood by other special people
- Expectation that others will automatically go along with what he or she wants
- Inability to recognize or identify with the feelings, needs, and viewpoints of others
- Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her
- Hypersensitivity to insults (real or imagined), criticism, or defeat, possibly reacting with rage, shame, and humiliation
- Arrogant behavior and/or attitude
What causes narcissistic personality disorder?
The exact cause of narcissistic personality disorder is not known.
However, many mental health professionals believe it results from
extremes in child rearing. For example, the disorder might develop as
the result of excessive pampering, or when a child’s parents have a need
for their children to be talented or special in order to maintain their
own self-esteem. On the other end of the spectrum, narcissistic
personality disorder might develop as the result of neglect or abuse and
trauma inflicted by parents or other authority figures during
childhood. The disorder usually is evident by early adulthood.
How is narcissistic personality disorder diagnosed?
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by
performing a complete medical history and physical exam. Although there
are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose personality disorders,
the doctor might use various diagnostic tests—such as X-rays and blood
tests—to rule out a physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.
If the doctor finds no physical reason for the symptoms, he or she
might refer the person to a psychiatrist or psychologist, health care
professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental
illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed
interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for a personality
disorder.
How is narcissistic personality disorder treated?
There is no known cure for narcissistic personality disorder, but
psychotherapy (a type of counseling) might help the person learn to
relate to others in a more positive and rewarding way. Psychotherapy
tries to provide the person with greater insight into his or her
problems and attitudes in the hope that this will change behavior. The
goal of therapy is to help the person develop a better self-esteem and
more realistic expectations of others. Medicine might be used to treat
the distressing symptoms, such as behavioral problems, that might occur
with this disorder.
What are the complications of narcissistic personality disorder?
People with narcissistic personality disorder might abuse drugs
and/or alcohol as a way of coping with their symptoms. The disorder also
might interfere with the development of healthy relationships with
others.
What is the outlook for people with narcissistic personality disorder?
The prognosis depends on the severity of the disorder.
Can narcissistic personality disorder be prevented?
There is no known way to prevent narcissistic personality disorder.
References
Janowsky David, "Chapter 30. Personality Disorders" (Chapter).
Young John Q, "Chapter 26. Personality Disorders" (Chapter).
© Copyright 1995-2011 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.
Awat
Cheq:
Patut
laa...rasanya lepas 2 -3 kali cheq baca, cheq dah boleh 'cuba' maafkan depa
agaknya. Macam kawan baik cheq kata..."Sah dan terbukti..sakit rupanya!'.
So, kita yang tak sakit ni, walaupun kadang2 jiwa tak tenteram dibuat oleh depa
ni..namun takkan lah kita nak marah orang sakit kan...
Kat
kawan baik cheq tu..thank you so much la sebab bagitau ada penyakit nama lagu ni. Lepaih ni kalau depa buat lagi kat
cheq, cepat2 cheq nak kata kat diri cheq..."Sakit rupanya..". So..org
yg ada NPD ni..kira kategori orang Mental Disorder lah kan..takkan kita yg tak
gila ni nak pi marah org gila...nama pun dah gila. Kalau depa waras..takkan nak
buat kat orang sampai lagu tu kan...tak pa..tak pa..nak ampun terus dosa
tak boleh lagi la..tapi pelan-pelan cheq akan ampunkan dosa
depa..insya'Allah...
Nak
tergelak pon ada..nak tak berapa percaya dgn penyakit ni pon ada..manalah
tau..kot2 saja buat2 gila kan...haishhhh..mcm2 ada...donia...donia...
Apapun..2
minggu ni cheq banyak tumpukan masa pd keluarga cheq. Baru cheq sedaq..akhirnya
keluarga jugalah yg akan bersama cheq walaupun selama ni cheq sering abaikan
depa..maafkan ibu tua ni ya puteri dan puteraku..muga Allah akan terus bagi
kebahagiaan kat kita..ibu rindu kat abah..
Salam
Maulidur Rasul buat semua. Muga sifat Nabi Muhammad, Rasullullah SAW yang akan
terus menjadi ikutan kita...Insya'Allah.
As
salam.
