Dramatic Personality Disorders: Borderline, Histrionic, Antisocial, and Narcissistic

Individuals with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions, distorted self-perception, and/or behavioral impulsiveness.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder often have a grandiose view of themselves, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in various situations. These individuals are very demanding in their relationships. This pattern is indicated by five (or more) of the following (from DSM IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994):

    1.has an inflated sense of self-importance (e.g., 
      exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to 
      be recognized as superior without corresponding 
      achievements)

    2.is overly concerned with fantasies of unlimited 
      success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

    3.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)

    4.requires excessive admiration

    5.has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations 
      of very positive treatment or automatic compliance with 
      his or her expectations

    6.takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

    7.lacks empathy: is unwilling to identify with the feelings 
      and needs of others

    8.is often jealous of others or believes that others are 
      jealous of him or her

    9.shows arrogant or domineering behaviors or attitudes




Avoidant Personality
Personality Disorders Main Page