Narcissism and suicide risk

Abstract We all have narcissism, but in some cases, the perception of narcissism becomes extreme and pathological. Systematic research has shown that there are three subtypes typical of narcissistic personality disorder: the grandiose/oblivious, the vulnerable/hypervigilant, and the high-functioning...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Glen O. Gabbard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-01-01
Series:Annals of General Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-022-00380-8
_version_ 1818954684760588288
author Glen O. Gabbard
author_facet Glen O. Gabbard
author_sort Glen O. Gabbard
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We all have narcissism, but in some cases, the perception of narcissism becomes extreme and pathological. Systematic research has shown that there are three subtypes typical of narcissistic personality disorder: the grandiose/oblivious, the vulnerable/hypervigilant, and the high-functioning subtype. Both biological and psychological factors are at work, but the true cause of pathological narcissism has not been established. The psychotherapy of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is complicated and often frustrating because of the difficulty in engaging a person with narcissistic personality disorder in a psychotherapeutic process. Suicide risk is not rare in patients with narcissism, particularly in the context of severe narcissistic injury, where the patient feels shamed and/or vilified. In conclusion, narcissistic patients are difficult to treat, but the risk of suicide makes it imperative for clinicians to stay involved in the treatment and assist the patient in understanding their vulnerabilities.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T10:26:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-49aad840dc7c414eaa66d54481ea2828
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1744-859X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T10:26:05Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Annals of General Psychiatry
spelling doaj.art-49aad840dc7c414eaa66d54481ea28282022-12-21T19:43:49ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2022-01-012111410.1186/s12991-022-00380-8Narcissism and suicide riskGlen O. Gabbard0Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor College of MedicineAbstract We all have narcissism, but in some cases, the perception of narcissism becomes extreme and pathological. Systematic research has shown that there are three subtypes typical of narcissistic personality disorder: the grandiose/oblivious, the vulnerable/hypervigilant, and the high-functioning subtype. Both biological and psychological factors are at work, but the true cause of pathological narcissism has not been established. The psychotherapy of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is complicated and often frustrating because of the difficulty in engaging a person with narcissistic personality disorder in a psychotherapeutic process. Suicide risk is not rare in patients with narcissism, particularly in the context of severe narcissistic injury, where the patient feels shamed and/or vilified. In conclusion, narcissistic patients are difficult to treat, but the risk of suicide makes it imperative for clinicians to stay involved in the treatment and assist the patient in understanding their vulnerabilities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-022-00380-8NarcissismCountertransferenceTransferenceShame and mentalization
spellingShingle Glen O. Gabbard
Narcissism and suicide risk
Annals of General Psychiatry
Narcissism
Countertransference
Transference
Shame and mentalization
title Narcissism and suicide risk
title_full Narcissism and suicide risk
title_fullStr Narcissism and suicide risk
title_full_unstemmed Narcissism and suicide risk
title_short Narcissism and suicide risk
title_sort narcissism and suicide risk
topic Narcissism
Countertransference
Transference
Shame and mentalization
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-022-00380-8
work_keys_str_mv AT glenogabbard narcissismandsuiciderisk