The Functions of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

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Professional psychologist working with emotionally detached black male patient at clinic, trying to help him with narcissistic behavior disorder

When the word “narcissist” comes to mind, what do you think of? Many people consider a person with an inflated ego, perhaps arrogant and always needing to be right. Although narcissists indeed share seemingly strong personalities, they essentially lack a core self.

While narcissistic behavior can be a choice, narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health disorder that requires intentional treatment. Living with narcissistic personality disorder, or living with someone with the disorder, can be incredibly debilitating.

Learning about the functions of this mental health disorder can help bring light to the need for treatment. The struggling person is deserving of support and guidance, especially because most cases are undiagnosed.

What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by behavior patterns such as grandiosity and the need for excessive admiration. NPD falls in the realm of personality disorders. While mood disorders pertain to dysfunction of emotion, personality disorders are associated with difficulty in interpersonal relationships.

Individuals with NPD are likely to experience psychological distress because of their interpersonal conflict and impairment with cognitive functioning. The core features of this mental health disorder include:

  • Impulsivity
  • Volatility
  • Attention-seeking behavior
  • Low self-esteem
  • Unstable relationships with others
  • Lack of empathy
  • Lack of emotion

Signs and Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Signs and symptoms of this mental health disorder can vary. In someone with NPD, more specific symptoms may show up as:

  • An exaggerated sense of self-importance
  • A sense of entitlement
  • An exaggeration of achievements and talents
  • Belittling or looking down on others that they perceive as inferior to them
  • Taking advantage of others so that they get what they want
  • An inability to recognize the needs or feelings of others
  • Behaving in an arrogant, conceited, or boastful way
  • Expecting special favors

Behind every diagnosis of NPD is a person that has severe issues with their own self-esteem, vulnerable to even the slightest of criticisms. NPD causes challenges in nearly every area of life, including relationships, occupation and work, school, and even finances. People with NPD may struggle to experience fulfillment in their relationships with others and not enjoy being around others in general.

Because people with NPD struggle greatly with accepting anything they perceive as criticism, a person with this condition might exhibit hostile or violent behavior. They might:

  • Get impatient or angry when they do not get special treatment
  • React with rage or violence and try to belittle others to seem superior
  • Show significant interpersonal problems
  • Struggle with regulating their mood and behavior
  • Struggle with coping with stress or adapting to change
  • Experience depression
  • Experience feelings of insecurity, shame, or humiliation

What Causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

The causes of NPD are still being researched, although most findings acknowledge that genetic vulnerabilities can play a role in its development. Other contributing factors may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and past trauma, such as childhood abuse or neglect.

Certain parenting styles may also cause NPD, such as excessive parental pampering or experiencing unrealistic expectations from parental figures. There are also cultural and other relational influences that may contribute to the development of this mental health disorder.

Treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Treatment for NPD follows the standard guidelines for the treatment of general personality and mood disorders. These guidelines consist of psychotherapy techniques, also known as talk therapy.

If NPD is co-occurring with another disorder such as depression, there may be medications prescribed to the individual with the condition. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers might also be considered depending on the severity and intensity of symptoms, specifically for mental health disorders that overlap with NPD. Otherwise, there are no known medications to treat NPD.

The Benefits of Seeking Treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

There are many benefits to psychotherapy. Specifically for NPD, psychotherapy can help an individual learn how to relate better to others so that they can better enjoy and understand their own interpersonal relationships.

A positive client-therapist interaction is essential to establish trust and intimacy with a client, as most people with NPD already struggle with low self-esteem. Psychotherapy can teach a client how to understand and manage their own feelings, recognize strengths and weaknesses to accept criticism better, and help set realistic expectations and goals.

There are also a variety of complications with this mental health disorder, as there are with any other disorders. Without seeking treatment for NPD, a person is more vulnerable to abusing drugs and alcohol to cope with their complex emotions.

Feeling loneliness and depreciated self-worth, a person is also more likely to experience depression or suicidal ideation. It is essential that a person exhibiting symptoms of NPD gets the help that they need and deserve to live a life filled with compassion and connection.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a condition that causes a person to exhibit intense grandiosity and superiority while lacking empathy and compassion for others. NPD causes extreme psychological distress, as well as dysfunction in nearly every area of life. The causes of NPD seem to be a combination of genetics, past traumatic abuse, and parenting styles used during childhood. Treatment for NPD is similar to other personality and mood disorder treatments, specifically highlighting psychotherapy. Psychotherapy allows clients to talk through their symptoms of distress by learning to relate better to others. A healthy client-therapist relationship is necessary for a client to establish trust and intimacy. At Sabino Recovery, we work with clients that exhibit a range of mental health disorders. We provide intensive, individualized care to ensure that you are able to have a healing and comfortable treatment experience.

The Functions of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Aug 10, 2023

Mental Health

Shara Turner, LPC, MSC, NCC, NARM

Professional psychologist working with emotionally detached black male patient at clinic, trying to help him with narcissistic behavior disorder

When the word “narcissist" comes to mind, what do you think of? Many people consider a person with an inflated ego, perhaps arrogant and always needing to be right. Although narcissists indeed share seemingly strong personalities, they essentially lack a core self.

While narcissistic behavior can be a choice, narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health disorder that requires intentional treatment. Living with narcissistic personality disorder, or living with someone with the disorder, can be incredibly debilitating.

Learning about the functions of this mental health disorder can help bring light to the need for treatment. The struggling person is deserving of support and guidance, especially because most cases are undiagnosed.

What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by behavior patterns such as grandiosity and the need for excessive admiration. NPD falls in the realm of personality disorders. While mood disorders pertain to dysfunction of emotion, personality disorders are associated with difficulty in interpersonal relationships.

Individuals with NPD are likely to experience psychological distress because of their interpersonal conflict and impairment with cognitive functioning. The core features of this mental health disorder include:

  • Impulsivity

  • Volatility

  • Attention-seeking behavior

  • Low self-esteem

  • Unstable relationships with others

  • Lack of empathy

  • Lack of emotion

Signs and Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Signs and symptoms of this mental health disorder can vary. In someone with NPD, more specific symptoms may show up as:

  • An exaggerated sense of self-importance

  • A sense of entitlement

  • An exaggeration of achievements and talents

  • Belittling or looking down on others that they perceive as inferior to them

  • Taking advantage of others so that they get what they want

  • An inability to recognize the needs or feelings of others

  • Behaving in an arrogant, conceited, or boastful way

  • Expecting special favors

Behind every diagnosis of NPD is a person that has severe issues with their own self-esteem, vulnerable to even the slightest of criticisms. NPD causes challenges in nearly every area of life, including relationships, occupation and work, school, and even finances. People with NPD may struggle to experience fulfillment in their relationships with others and not enjoy being around others in general.

Because people with NPD struggle greatly with accepting anything they perceive as criticism, a person with this condition might exhibit hostile or violent behavior. They might:

  • Get impatient or angry when they do not get special treatment

  • React with rage or violence and try to belittle others to seem superior

  • Show significant interpersonal problems

  • Struggle with regulating their mood and behavior

  • Struggle with coping with stress or adapting to change

  • Experience depression

  • Experience feelings of insecurity, shame, or humiliation

What Causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

The causes of NPD are still being researched, although most findings acknowledge that genetic vulnerabilities can play a role in its development. Other contributing factors may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and past trauma, such as childhood abuse or neglect.

Certain parenting styles may also cause NPD, such as excessive parental pampering or experiencing unrealistic expectations from parental figures. There are also cultural and other relational influences that may contribute to the development of this mental health disorder.

Treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Treatment for NPD follows the standard guidelines for the treatment of general personality and mood disorders. These guidelines consist of psychotherapy techniques, also known as talk therapy.

If NPD is co-occurring with another disorder such as depression, there may be medications prescribed to the individual with the condition. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers might also be considered depending on the severity and intensity of symptoms, specifically for mental health disorders that overlap with NPD. Otherwise, there are no known medications to treat NPD.

The Benefits of Seeking Treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

There are many benefits to psychotherapy. Specifically for NPD, psychotherapy can help an individual learn how to relate better to others so that they can better enjoy and understand their own interpersonal relationships.

A positive client-therapist interaction is essential to establish trust and intimacy with a client, as most people with NPD already struggle with low self-esteem. Psychotherapy can teach a client how to understand and manage their own feelings, recognize strengths and weaknesses to accept criticism better, and help set realistic expectations and goals.

There are also a variety of complications with this mental health disorder, as there are with any other disorders. Without seeking treatment for NPD, a person is more vulnerable to abusing drugs and alcohol to cope with their complex emotions.

Feeling loneliness and depreciated self-worth, a person is also more likely to experience depression or suicidal ideation. It is essential that a person exhibiting symptoms of NPD gets the help that they need and deserve to live a life filled with compassion and connection.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a condition that causes a person to exhibit intense grandiosity and superiority while lacking empathy and compassion for others. NPD causes extreme psychological distress, as well as dysfunction in nearly every area of life. The causes of NPD seem to be a combination of genetics, past traumatic abuse, and parenting styles used during childhood. Treatment for NPD is similar to other personality and mood disorder treatments, specifically highlighting psychotherapy. Psychotherapy allows clients to talk through their symptoms of distress by learning to relate better to others. A healthy client-therapist relationship is necessary for a client to establish trust and intimacy. At Sabino Recovery, we work with clients that exhibit a range of mental health disorders. We provide intensive, individualized care to ensure that you are able to have a healing and comfortable treatment experience.

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