Hi all,

We have received a couple of posts regarding the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (or "NPD" as we refer to it). This clip is taken from the most recent post that I've seen--so resources and references are most appreciated!

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Here are the traits of a N, for those who don't know:

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

(1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

(2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

(3) 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)

(4) requires excessive admiration

(5) has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

(6) is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

(7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

(9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

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Wikipedia refers to it here: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder[/url]

At least five of the following are necessary for a diagnosis (as with many DSM diagnoses, they must form a pervasive pattern; for example, a person who shows these criteria only in one or two relationships or situations would not properly be diagnosed with NPD):

has a grandiose sense of self-importance
is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by other special people
requires excessive admiration
strong sense of entitlement
takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
lacks empathy
is often envious or believes others are envious of him or her
arrogant affect.
(see also full list in DSM-IV-TR, p. 717)

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Common abbreviations used:
NPD -- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
N -- Adj. describing one as a narcissist (e.g. "a N MIL") or Noun as in calling one a narcissist (e.g. "My MIL, the N")
BPD -- Borderline Personality Disorder. Often seen in NPD posts and information. Here is a wiki reference: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder[/url]

(If I need to add to this information let me know by PM.)