Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is a personality disorder that occurs when an individual has an inflated sense of self-importance that covers a very fragile sense of self-esteem. A person with this disorder creates a sense of superiority and self-importance to avoid dealing with their fears and insecurities. They tend to require large amounts of external validation, admiration, and praise. Patients also struggle to cope with criticism because they cannot acknowledge themselves as flawed individuals without acknowledging their insecurities at the same time. They may also experience issues with their day-to-day functioning, interpersonal relationships, and career due to their behavior.

Narcissistic personality disorder treatment is vital. However, it is difficult to begin. Most patients will need therapy for narcissistic personality disorder. Reports indicate that antidepressants and medication for anxiety may also be helpful as treatments for narcissistic personality disorder. Ultimately, patients must undergo proper diagnosis and understand their treatment options first.

Thorough Psychological Evaluation

The first step to diagnosing narcissistic personality disorder is through a thorough psychological evaluation. Personality disorders are defined by a distortion in thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors that affects an individual's whole sense of self. This can make diagnosing and treating them difficult. Affected individuals often do not realize that anything is wrong. If they do, they blame others for the problems instead of themselves. A big issue with this disorder is an inability to understand that the self is flawed, which can make it challenging to get a patient with this condition to seek treatment. They often receive a diagnosis only after individuals or institutions in their lives have given them an ultimatum. It is sometimes difficult for them to accept the diagnosis. 

The symptoms of this personality disorder can be similar to those that appear in other conditions. Examples include avoidant personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. Thus, a skilled mental health practitioner must consider all aspects of the patient's behavior and mental health history.

Read more about diagnosing and treating narcissistic personality disorder now.