The person may have obsessive fantasies about their own greatness. The person may lie about or exaggerate achievements in order to seem more accomplished. The person may believe that they are superior to others, even if no facts or accomplishments back this up. The person may also assume that others are jealous of this superiority, and may exhibit extreme jealousy when other people experience success.
The person may also believe that they deserve to be in the company of other “elite” individuals. The person may also make frequent demands and expect other people to respond without question.
You may notice that the person constantly points out achievements. The person may also fish for compliments.
The person may criticize even competent people, especially if they disagree with or challenge the person.
The person may frequently manipulate or take advantage of others for personal benefit. The person may seem completely oblivious of other people’s needs and feelings.
The person may lash out at people who offer criticism. Alternatively, the person may become very depressed when faced with criticism. For some people, this may extend to an inability to handle anything that might be perceived as a challenge, even something as simple as a differing opinion. [8] X Research source
In order for a person to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder, symptoms must interfere with basic functioning in at least two of the following areas: cognition, affect, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control. [9] X Research source A professional diagnosis is needed to confirm whether a person has narcissistic personality disorder or just narcissistic traits.
People with both disorders may display anger, but people with narcissistic personality disorder tend to display anger towards others, while people with borderline personality disorder tend to express anger towards themselves. People with borderline personality disorder may care more about other people’s concerns and opinions than people with narcissistic personality disorder, although they are still unlikely to interact with others in a normal and healthy way. It is possible for one individual to have both narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, which may further complicate the diagnosis.
People with antisocial personality disorder tend to have a harder time controlling impulses than people with narcissistic personality disorder. As a result, they are often more aggressive and/or self-destructive. People with antisocial personality disorder also tend to be more intentionally manipulative and deceitful than people with narcissistic personality disorder.
Males are more likely to have narcissistic personality disorder than females. Because the symptoms of personality disorders tend to decrease as a person ages, narcissistic personality disorder is typically more noticeable in younger people.
Your doctor will probably want to do blood tests as well.
The diagnosis process will involve a complete psychological evaluation. Questionnaires are sometimes used to understand the person’s state-of-mind. [15] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source As with many mental health disorders, there is no laboratory test that can be used to diagnose narcissistic personality disorder. A trained mental health professional must analyze the person’s symptoms and history in order to make a diagnosis.
Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder is a lengthy process. The person may require years of therapy. In some cases, medications may also be prescribed to help the person combat symptoms such as anxiety or depression.
