Disorders of Narcissism

Foreword. Diagnostic and Theoretical Considerations. Introduction to Section I. Normal narcissism: an etiological and ethological perspective. Pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: theoretical background and diagnostic classification. Further developments in the clinical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. The DSM narcissistic personality disorder: historical reflections and future directions. Developmental aspects of normal and pathological narcissism. Treatment Implications. Introduction to Section II. Transference and countertransference in the treatment of narcissistic patients. Psychoanalysis of patients with primary self-disorder: a self psychological perspective. An object relations theory approach to psychoanalysis with narcissistic patients. Treatment of narcissistic disorders in the intensive psychiatric milieu. Narcissistic patients in group psychotherapy: containing affects in the early group. Schema-focused therapy for narcissistic patients. Manifestations of narcissistic disorders in couples therapy: identification and treatment. Special Clinical Considerations. Introduction to Section III. Affect regulation and narcissism: trauma, alexithymia, and psychosomatic illness in narcissistic patients. Pathological narcissism and self-regulatory processes in suicidal states. Research. Introduction to Section IV. Empirical studies of the construct validity of narcissistic personality disorder. Pathological narcissism: long-term stability and presence in Axis I disorders. Association between psychopathy and narcissism: theoretical views and empirical evidence. Narcissistic personality disorder in adolescent inpatients: a retrospective record review study of descriptive characteristics. Afterword. Index.