Professional paper

Theoretical Concepts of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Overview of Narcissistic Disorder in Group Analysis

Silvija Topić Lukačević ; Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Zagreb, Croatia,
Ante Bagarić ; Clinical Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Narcissism has been discussed in the literature with increasing frequency, primarily because we are living in an age when it is widespread and is often seen in people holding leadership positions, so that for some it has become a model of desirable behaviour. Pathological narcissism began to be more intensively studied in the early 20th century, which culminated in the works of Kohut and Kernberg. According to many studies, the prevalence of narcissistic personality disorders in the general population is 1%, which is a large number, but on the other hand its diagnosis in clinical practice
is rarely described. Diagnosis is extremely complex, and it is difficult to distinguish the boundary between normal and pathological narcissism, while additional complications result in insufficient emphasis in the professional literature on the two types of this disorder: vulnerable and grandiose. Treatment of the disorder is extremely long-lasting and demanding, primarily because of the patient’s lack of insight and its focus on interpersonal relationships. Psychotherapy, either
individual or in a group, is emphasized as a therapeutic choice that could help patients revitalize their condition, control it and enable them to create healthy interpersonal relationships. In this paper, we discuss the group work, that could help narcissistic patients to build upon a lack of intrapersonal structures through group empathy and cohesion that is essential for the integration of a narcissistic patient through the dynamics of group work and based on feedback about how their
behaviour affects others.

Keywords

Diagnose; Group Work; Narcissism; Narcissistic Personality Disorder; Treatment

Hrčak ID:

206664

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/206664

Publication date:

12.10.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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