The effects of narcissistic personality disorder include feelings of grandiosity and self-importance. Most clinicians agree that long-term therapy is the best option for treating narcissistic personality disorder.
People diagnosed withnarcissistic personality disorder (NPD)might be resistant to treatment. Most people who have NPD do not wish to seek treatment for the disorder as they do not feel there is a problem. The effects of narcissistic personality disorder include feelings of grandiosity and self-importance. Clinicians have been able to develop a basic NPD treatment plan. Most clinicians agree that long-term therapy is the best option for treating NPD. Medication might be helpful when co-occurring disorders, including addiction, are present.
Medications Used for Treating Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Currently, there are no medications for narcissistic personality disorder. When a clinician prescribes medication to a person with NPD, it may be to treat a co-occurring mood disorder such asdepressionoranxiety. When these mood disorders co-occur with narcissistic personality disorder, the person affected usually has their feelings of self-importance challenged or threatened. Possible challenges and threats may result in physical illness, injury or failure on a large scale.
Therapy Options for Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Therapy for narcissistic personality disorder needs to be a long-term commitment to make progress. In many cases, even long-term therapy results in only minimal progress. This issue can be because people with narcissistic personality disorder may not want to make changes. Few therapeutic approaches have shown significant improvements in symptoms. These approaches include mentalization-based therapy, transference-focused psychotherapy and schema therapy.
Mentalization-Based Therapy
Mentalization-based therapy is used to treat borderline personality disorder. Some success has been found in populations with narcissistic personality disorder. Goals of mentalization-based therapy include:
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- Increasing the ability to see how one’s actions affect other people
- Increasing empathy for other people
Transference-focused Psychotherapy
Another approach created for use with borderline personality disorder is transference-focused psychotherapy, which aims to change the underlying psychological structures that cause the specific symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder.
Schema-Focused Psychotherapy
Schema therapy, which is used to treat several personality disorders, is focused on identifying false beliefs about the world, ones that were often developed in early childhood. Once identified, these schemas are challenged and corrected. This process encourages reinforcement and development of healthy coping mechanisms. Applying schema therapy to narcissistic personality disorder focuses on schemas that cause an inflated sense of self-importance and excessive need for approval.
Related Topic:Narcissistic personality disorder treatment success rate
Treatment for Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Co-Occurring Substance Abuse
Narcissistic personality disorder and addictionfrequently co-occur. People with narcissistic personality disorder may turn to substance use to cope with their negative emotions instead of relying on other people. Both distrust of other people and an inability to admit personal struggles may lead to substance use. When both disorders are present, treating substance use in addition to narcissistic personality disorder is essential.
While treatingco-occurring narcissistic personality disorder and substance use disorderssimultaneously are best, this may be challenging due to the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. A person with narcissistic personality disorder might be willing to address their substance use but may not be willing to change their false personality traits.The Recovery Villagecan treat both struggles at one time with an individualized treatment plan for each disorder. If you or someone you know struggles with NPD and substance abuse,call to learn moreabout rehab.
