Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Long Term Outlook

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Long Term Outlook

The prognosis for patients with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is not good. Individuals with NPD are notoriously difficult to treat and are particularly prone to relapse. They are inclined to believe that they can control their situation or will not suffer a relapse. Once in relapse, they may refuse to return to treatment because of shame and humiliation.

After he nearly succeeded in assassinating President Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley, Jr., spent nearly two decades in St. Elizabeths Hospital (later renamed the Commission on Mental Health Services) before he was judged well enough to make unsupervised visits to his parents’ home. Hinckley was diagnosed with psychosis, major depression and narcissistic personality disorder. Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, was among the critics who questioned whether NPD could ever be cured.

Of course, John Hinckley is a very extreme case; the average NPD victim will never try to kill anyone. Nevertheless, Hinckley is a good example of both the potential serious of narcissistic personality disorder and the difficulty in treating it.

A mental health specialist’s goal should not necessarily be the elimination of all narcissistic attitudes and behaviors but the molding of attitudes and behaviors into a healthier whole.

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Do you agree that the United States can be regarded as a narcissistic society? If so, is that a bad thing, or do U.S. citizens simply display a healthy interest in keeping themselves fit and attractive?

What about the idea that narcissists are common among government officials? Does public apathy, ignorance and stupidity make it easier for the elite to treat them with contempt and a lack of empathy?

What are some of your favorite websites and books that focus on narcissism?

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