Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a highly pervasive psychological disorder characterized mainly by self-centeredness. Narcissistic Personality Disorder symptoms include a complete and total lack of empathy, along with a highly-exaggerated sense of self-importance. Personality disorder treatment is very important. Like other personality disorders, NPD is extremely harmful when it becomes a persistent pattern of behavior over time, if left untreated and undiagnosed. Narcissistic Personality Disorder symptoms have far-reaching negative consequences. They adversely affect a patient’s life, including their social, family, and work relationships.
Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder include an abnormal and constant need for affirmation, attention, and praise. These patients have long-lasting fantasies about attaining power and success. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) may even result in a person exploiting other people for personal gain. They do not have any sympathy or compassion for others.
Personality disorder treatment addresses the problem of an exaggerated sense of one’s own achievements and abilities. These patients feel they are the "chosen ones." Expecting special treatment is also not uncommon with NPD patients. Narcissism, as a personality trait, is well-studied and researched; it is a term commonly employed to describe people who are more concerned and interested with themselves than other people around them.
Personality disorder treatment distinguishes between those who exhibit signs of narcissistic personality disorder and those who by their very nature are arrogant, confident, and self-centered. The latter may not suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or NPD, as they do not have the over-exaggerated or grandiose view of their own abilities and skills, which are the principal signs of narcissistic personality disorder.
Narcissistic personality disorder is confirmed only if a person exhibits five or more of the following symptoms:
- They have an exaggerated view of their achievements and talents; there is absolutely no limit to their sense of self-importance.
- They are constantly preoccupied with fantasies of beauty, ideal love, power, brilliance, and even unlimited success.
- They think and believe that they alone are special and unique, and that they must be given an opportunity to interact with people of high-status and special institutions.
- They always expect, and in fact need, constant and excessive admiration.
- One of the most obvious signs of narcissistic personality disorder is deep-rooted chronic envy. This manifests itself in an overtly-arrogant and haughty attitude.
However, as is the case with all other types of personality disorders, Narcissistic Personality Disorder can be diagnosed only if the person is at least 18 years old. Studies indicate that Narcissistic Personality Disorder is more common in males than in females. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) affects less than one percent of the population.
The requirement for treatment usually decreases with age. Thus, it closely resembles other personality disorders. The signs of narcissistic personality disorder seem to fade away as the person enters their 40s and 50s.
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