· Explain the diagnostic criteria for your assigned personality disorder. · Explain the evidenced-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatment for your assigned personality disorder. · Describe clinical features from a client that led you to believe this client had this disorder. Align the clinical features with the DSM-5 criteria. · Support your rationale with 3 references to the Learning Resources or other academic resources.
Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) provides the following diagnostic criteria for NPD:
1. Grandiosity: Individuals with NPD have an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a belief that they are special or unique. They may believe that they are superior to others and deserve special treatment, admiration, or recognition.
2. Fantasies of unlimited success and power: People with NPD often have grandiose fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, or beauty. They may believe that they are destined for greatness and expect others to recognize and admire their exceptional qualities.
3. Need for admiration: Individuals with NPD have a constant need for admiration and validation from others. They seek attention, praise, and recognition, and may feel entitled to special treatment. They thrive on the admiration and envy of others.
4. Sense of entitlement: People with NPD often have an intense sense of entitlement and believe that they deserve special privileges or preferential treatment. They may exploit others to get what they want and may become angry or offended if their needs and expectations are not met.
5. Lack of empathy: Individuals with NPD have a limited ability to understand or recognize the feelings and needs of others. They lack empathy and fail to appreciate the impact of their behavior on others. They may be indifferent or dismissive of others’ emotions and may exploit or manipulate others for their own gain.
6. Interpersonal exploitative behavior: People with NPD often exploit and manipulate others to achieve their own goals. They may take advantage of others’ trust, loyalty, or goodwill for personal gain. They may use others for their own pleasure or satisfaction without considering the feelings or needs of others.
7. Enviousness and arrogant behavior: Individuals with NPD may be envious of others and believe that others are envious of them. They may feel resentment and envy toward those who they perceive as more successful or accomplished. They may display arrogant, haughty, or dismissive behavior towards others.
In order for a person to be diagnosed with NPD, they must exhibit at least five of these criteria and the pattern of behavior must be enduring and inflexible, leading to significant distress or impairment in functioning.
Evidence-Based Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacologic Treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Psychotherapy is the primary treatment approach for individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The most effective evidence-based psychotherapy for NPD is psychodynamic therapy, specifically, mentalization-based therapy (MBT). MBT helps individuals with NPD develop a greater capacity for mentalizing, which is the ability to understand and interpret others’ thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
In MBT, the therapist establishes a secure and empathic relationship with the individual and helps them explore their emotions, thoughts, and interpersonal experiences. The therapist focuses on helping the individual develop insight into their own patterns of thinking and behavior and encourages them to consider alternative perspectives and interpretations. Through this process, individuals with NPD can develop a greater capacity for empathy and engage in more constructive and authentic relationships.
In addition to psychotherapy, there is limited evidence for the use of specific psychopharmacologic treatments for NPD. Medications may be prescribed to address comorbid conditions such as depression, anxiety, or impulse control disorders that commonly co-occur with NPD. Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be prescribed to help manage depression or anxiety symptoms. However, medications alone are not sufficient to treat NPD and should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Clinical Features and DSM-5 Criteria
In a client with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, clinical features that may be observed align with the DSM-5 criteria mentioned earlier. For example, a client may display a grandiose sense of self-importance, frequently talking about their achievements and dismissing others’ opinions or contributions. They may also exhibit a constant need for admiration and validation, seeking attention and praise from others. In their relationships, they may show a lack of empathy, failing to recognize or understand the emotions and needs of others. These behaviors may include exploiting and manipulating others for personal gain or displaying arrogant and dismissive behavior towards others.
Overall, the diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder requires a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the individual’s behavior and functioning, considering the DSM-5 criteria and their impact on the person’s daily life. The treatment approach should focus on psychotherapy, particularly mentalization-based therapy, to help individuals with NPD develop insight, empathy, and more constructive interpersonal relationships.