DSM-IV-TR specifies nine diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. For the clinician to make the diagnosis, an individual must fit five or more of the following descriptions:
- They have a grandiose sense of self-importance (exaggerates accomplishments and demands to be considered superior without real evidence of achievement).
- They live in a dream world of exceptional success, power, beauty, genius, or “perfect” love.
- They think of themselves as “special” or privileged, and that they can only be understood by other special or high-status people.
- They demand excessive amounts of praise or admiration from others.
- They feel entitled to automatic deference, compliance , or favorable treatment from others.
- They are exploitative towards others and take advantage of them.
- They lack empathy and do not recognize or identify with others’ feelings.
- They are frequently envious of others or think that they are envious of them.
- They “have an attitude” or frequently act in haughty or arrogant ways.
