Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Diagnostic Criteria

Doctors must use diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) when evaluating patients for narcissistic personality disorder. This manual states that individuals must display a pattern of symptoms in at least five of the categories to be diagnosed with this condition. One symptom is having a grandiose sense of self. This comes with the need to be recognized as superior even without an achievement. Another is being preoccupied with certain fantasies involving unlimited brilliance, success, beauty, and power.

Two more criteria are a distinct lack of empathy and requiring excessive admiration from other individuals. The criteria also include taking advantage of others and being quite envious of others as well. It is vital to consult the manual in full for the specific wording and details on these criteria. They are essential for diagnosis and explicit in what they must include.

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