I surely do like writers like Melody Wilding!

Her article makes it clear why Narcissism is so little understood today by the general public and professors alike.

For example, with a second look and a little bit of research, most conclude that narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is one of the most unreliable diagnoses that can be made. In fact, there have been no clinical trials for this supposed ‘disorder’ to date.

Did the author overlook this? For more information read:

a) Caligor, Eve; Levy, Kenneth N.; Yeomans, Frank E. (May 2015). “Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Diagnostic and Clinical Challenges”. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 172 (5): 415–22. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14060723. PMID 25930131.

Furthermore, because of the sparse and contradictory research literature, narcissistic personality disorder was set to be eliminated from the current psychiatrist’s diagnostic manual (DSM-5) just as other ‘disorders’ such as homosexuality had been previously eliminated. However, in response to pressure from professional groups, the decision to remove narcissistic personality disorder was reversed, and today it has been reinserted as a pathology in the current DSM-5 with a far from unanimous recall.

Did the author overlook this also?

To confirm this turbulent clinical history of NPD, read:

b) Shedler J, Beck A, Fonagy P, et al.: Personality disorders in DSM-5. Am J Psychiatry 2010; 167:1026–1028 Link, Google Scholar

c)Ronningstam E: Narcissistic personality disorder in DSM-V: in support of retaining a significant diagnosis. J Pers Disord 2011; 25:248–259 Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar

d) Miller JD, Widiger TA, Campbell WK: Narcissistic personality disorder and the DSM-V. J Abnorm Psychol 2010; 119:640–649 Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar

In the end, the question is up in the air as to whether there are any ‘real’ traits that would allow for the “spotting of a real narcissist”. There are no magic decoder rings.

But what can be confirmed, is that the search for ‘The Narcissist’ is linked to a disorder that has an older and more confirmed diagnosis: that of ‘The Paranoiac’.

With more time than this short note allows here, the real question is why every narcissist is coupled to a paranoiac — and it is only in the relation between the two that the structure of the problem is laid bare.

See: Who’s Afraid of Narcissism: How Not To Become Paranoiac

Cheers,

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