Narcissistic personality disorder was named after the Greek mythological character Narcissis, who fell in love with his own reflection. It, like all the personality disorders, is long-term, firmly entrenched, difficult to treat and manifested by inappropriate coping skills evidenced in various settings. In order to diagnose a loved one or friend with narcissistic personality disorder, you will need to take the steps outlined below. Please read the warning section, as diagnosis should be for understanding and treatment, not labeling and judgment.
Instructions
1. Observe the person in a variety of settings. Stress and environment often cause change in behavior that is temporary and time limited. However, in any personality disorder, the behavior will be consistent over different situations and locales. Therefore, it is a good idea to gather information on emotions and behavior in the individual from others who come into contact with him and to accompany him in various pursuits and locations.
2. The following steps are the evidentiary steps. This means that you should observe and decide if the behavior and emotions listed in the steps are consistent with your loved one's actions, or if they should be discounted. In all of the following she should have a consistent pattern of grandiosity that causes her to want praise and admiration and yet she will not be able to note admirable and praiseworthy qualities in others. This quality should be evidenced by at least five of the following observable traits.
3. Answer two questions. Does she have an inflated sense of self importance? If so, please add to your list of traits that fit the diagnosis. Does she require consistently over-the-top admiration? If the answer to either question is yes, please add that trait to your list.
4. Elicit conversations with the individual. Is she focused on fantasies about ideal love (someone loving her, not necessarily her loving them), success or beauty? If so, add this to your list of traits and if not, leave it off the list. Add to the list if the answers to any of the following are positive. Does she have a strong sense of entitlement and expect special treatment? Does she use others to get her own needs met, without regard or concern for them?
5. Continue to prepare a list. Ask yourself if he believes he is very special and should only be involved with other people who are worthy of him due to education, fame, power or beauty. If the answer is yes, add that to your list of traits that you will use to help clarify the behavior and assist a mental health professional in creating a diagnosis and treatment plan. The last questions you should ask yourself are as follows: Is he lacking in empathy and unwilling or unable to see the pain and need of others? Is he often jealous of others or believe others are jealous of him? Is he arrogant and haughty in behavior and beliefs?
6. After observing this individual in a variety of settings and situations and compiling this list, please add the traits that you have numerated. If there are at least five, there is some evidence that your loved one may struggle with narcissistic personality disorder. It should be noted again that these traits should be observed historically throughout adulthood and in various environments as personality disorders are pervasive and firmly entrenched.
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