Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental disorder that causes people to think that they are more superior and important than anyone else. People with NPD have a hard time interacting with other people. There is no evidence of an exact cause of NPD, but most researchers believe it develops during childhood and adolescence and reaches it’s peak in adulthood. The basic treatment for NPD is hospitalization and psychotherapy. Mayo Clinic defines Narcissistic Personality Disorder as “a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that 's vulnerable …show more content…
Most think that the causes are biopsychosocial which means that they are biological, social, and psychological causes (Psych Central Staff, 1). Research supports that it is possible for NPD to be passed on to other generations through genetics. The social cause of NPD would relate to the way a person developed and how they interacted with the people around them such as family and friends. The psychological cause is described as, “The individual’s personality and temperament, shaped by their environment and learned coping skills to deal with stress.” (1). Due to there being three separate possible causes, it is difficult to determine a single cause of NPD. Mayo Clinic suggested that it may be related to the relationship between the child and the parents. If the parents were either too critical or rewarding and complementary, the child may have developed NPD. Another possible cause may be parental ignorance of the feelings and emotions of their child. If a child grows up without ever having their emotions acknowledged, it may lead to emotional dysregulation, commonly known as mood swings (Dimaggio, …show more content…
Hospitalization may occur because of symptoms relating to other related disorders and the patient would be treated for the specific symptom. In more extreme cases of NPD, a patient may be long-term hospitalized and treatment would include psychotherapy, interacting with family members and a secure environment. People with NPD commonly do not seek help for their disorder because they do not recognize it or they do not want to harm their reputation or seem weak. Some people may think that they do not need to see a therapist because they think that they are superior to any professional and are more capable of handling their disorder. It is recommended that the psychotherapist has a reputable position and is the best possible person for the job, otherwise the patient may not take anything the therapist says seriously and will consider them a waste of time. The professional must show respect for the patient and recognize their level of significance, but must not reinforce their narcissistic behavior or make them feel deficient. It is possible that the patient may begin to see the therapist as superior and possessing greater qualities than that of the narcissist which may be supported, but then the therapist should help the patient recognize that both of them have flaws just as all humans do (1). Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a difficult disorder to understand. We do not know the cause

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