Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and
lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as
indicated by five (or more) of the following:
- has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents,
expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
- is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal
love
- believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by,
or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
- requires excessive admiration
- has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable
treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
- is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her
own ends
- lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of
others
- is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
- shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes