Suggest Treatment For Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Posted on Sat, 22 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 22 Mar 2014 Answered on

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : At the current agency in which I have worked for the past 43 years we have hired a new principal. I am the COo at a residential and community sevices program. The residential program has an on grounds school program which seves adolescent girls 12-18. They have been placed by the family courts or school districts. Our new principal resided at a similar facility for adolescent boys when he was a teenager. Currently I am spending much of my day fielding some serious complaints from all the departments within the agency from maintenace staff to trained clinicians. I have approached the CEO on numerous occasions regarding the complaints. The CEO is a licensed social worker but he attributes the new principal's behavior to in experience. I , however, believe him to be a narcissistic personality disorder. Staff are at a loss as what to do. They have written anonymous letters to the board of directors but no one is taking it seriously since the letters are not signed. This man is threatening, intimidating and condecending. He has no respect for his teachers or any other staff in the agency. I can provide you with many specific examples however the list would take pages to describe them all. I am currently at a loss as what to do. Do you have any suggestions? I am not a disgruntled employee. I have nothing to lose. I am past retirement age and have servedd in many positions within the agency including director of the clinical department . So I do have some knowledge of this disorder and this man seems to meet most of the criteria that supports a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder including the insecurity, feeelings of superiority etc. Can you help with any advice? Thank you so much for your immediate attention to this matter. His presence in this setting andnthe CEO'S unwillingness to acknowledge his mistake will be the demise of the program.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (9 hours later)

Brief Answer: NPD described, Seek Attorney for help Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking! I appreciate your concern for your institution and no one should let that be destroyed by a person who needs psychiatric help.Mr XXXXX i want you to know that n the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), NPD is defined as comprising a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by the presence of at least 5 of the following 9 criteria: A grandiose sense of self-importance A preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love A belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions A need for excessive admiration A sense of entitlement Interpersonally exploitive behavior A lack of empathy Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her A demonstration of arrogant and haughty behaviors or attitudes In a proposed alternative model cited in DSM-5, NPD is characterized by moderate or greater impairment in personality functioning, manifested by characteristic difficulties in 2 or more of the following 4 areas Identity Self-direction Empathy Intimacy Also NPD must be distinguished from the other 3 cluster B personality disorders, which are as follows: Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) Borderline personality disorder (BPD) Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) All that needs a psychiatrist to diagnose and once diagnose the man will not be eligible for the post he is on. Now how that system works in your country and state is some thing an attorney or law enforcement agency will help you with. We being doctors can explain the medical condition and that i did to the best of my abilities. I hope it helps. Take good care and dont forget to close the discussion please. May the odds be ever in your favour. S Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar