Narcissistic personality disorder is a personality disorder in which the individual has a persistent need for admiration. These individuals have an inflated ego and superiority complex and feel that others are less important than them. Narcissistic personalities turn inward for fulfillment and do not depend on others. They are predominantly preoccupied with issues related to personal capabilities, authority and fame. Often, the root cause of this disorder is receiving excessive praise or criticism in childhood. As per some studies, it is more frequently observed in men than in women and occurs in about 1 percent of the general population.

Individuals affected by narcissistic personality disorder have an inflated sense of self-importance accompanied by the need to be admired and praised by others. They often lack empathy for the feelings of others and indulge in fantasies surrounding power, grandiosity, fame and admiration. Narcissistic personalities overestimate their capabilities and underestimate those of other people. They often think that they are matchless and others are worthless or cannot match up to their caliber.

Characteristics of narcissistic personality disorder:

Individuals with this disorder tend to exaggerate their talents, success and achievements.

Their behavior and self- centered thoughts are often a source of amusement for others, but these individuals think that their opulence in something they deserve.

These individuals are known for bragging in order to gain importance and feed their inflated ego.

They constantly expect to be admired for their self-perceived talents and achievements.

They often feel that they are extraordinary and so special that they should only be associated with individuals of higher status or ranking.

They lack empathy towards others which often leads to conflicts in interpersonal relationships.

They are envious of other people or have a strong belief that others are envious of them.

They are extremely arrogant and often indulge in haughty or snobbish behaviors.

They are extremely sensitive to criticism and take it negatively.

Treatment:

Treatment strategies for Narcissistic personality disorder are focused on psychotherapy and group therapy. There are no specific medications to treat this disorder but are only prescribed in cases where individuals might be suffering from associated disorders such as depression or anxiety.