Narcissistic personality disorder
You may be trying to understand a diagnosis or a recurring difficulty with self-esteem and relationships. This page gives you a care-focused explanation of the term, without reducing a person to a label.
A clinical term for an enduring pattern.
In the DSM framework, NPD involves a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration and difficulties with empathy. Vulnerable self-esteem and sensitivity to criticism can also be relevant.
The term is not a synonym for abuse or a way to decide whether another person is good or bad. This page does not identify a partner, colleague or family member.
Based on MSD Manual Professional
Begin with your own experience and care questions.
- Self-worth
How you experience your value
- Admiration & setbacks
The effects of praise or criticism
- Relationships
Needs, expectations and other perspectives
- Care goals
What you want help understanding
A clinical term should not become a verdict about someone’s character.
NPD assessment concerns enduring patterns involving self-esteem, need for admiration and relationships. It requires professional context; an isolated selfish action or a disagreement cannot establish it.
The diagnosis is not synonymous with abuse. If behavior is harming you, the behavior and its effect deserve support regardless of what diagnosis another person may or may not have.
Self-view
How self-worth is experienced and maintained over time.
Relationships
Patterns and difficulties in relating to other people.
Functioning
Effects on everyday life and reasons for seeking care.
Based on MSD Manuals
Reflection, assessment and care have different purposes.
You can ask for an explanation or support without choosing a diagnostic label.
Everyday traits
Words such as reserved, organized or expressive can describe preferences. A personality reflection is not a disorder assessment.
A clinical pattern
A professional considers the pattern, context and impact. A label needs more than one interaction or a short online score.
Your care questions
You can ask how a term was reached, what the plan addresses and how your own goals will be included.
Based on MSD Manual Professional
Questions about your own experience.
These broad areas need clinical context, rather than a points total or a list of red flags.
Self-worth
Self-worth depending heavily on admiration or status.
Setbacks
Criticism or setbacks feeling especially humiliating.
Expectations
Expectations of special treatment affecting relationships.
Other perspectives
Difficulty considering another person's feelings or needs.
Based on MSD Manual Professional
Assessment considers the pattern and other explanations.
A clinician considers an enduring pattern and possible overlapping conditions. A confident manner, an argument or a Big Five result cannot establish this diagnosis.
If you are affected by someone else's behavior, you can seek support for what is happening without assigning them a diagnosis.
Based on MSD Manual Professional
- 1Your own question
What you want to understand about the term or your experience.
- 2A recurring situation
One example you are comfortable discussing.
- 3The care relationship
How feedback, goals and progress will be discussed.
Care can work with self-esteem and relationships.
You and your clinician can discuss what fits your needs, preferences and health.
Based on MSD Manual Professional
Care can start with a difficulty you want to understand.
Psychotherapy may address patterns of self-worth and relationships. Ask about the clinician’s experience, the proposed approach and what change would look like in your daily life.
You can discuss other health concerns too. A general personality score cannot select treatment or establish that a particular person has NPD.
Based on MSD Manuals
A little clarity. A place to start.
Explore a tool, prepare a conversation or find someone to talk to. Choose what feels useful to you.
No self-test for this topic is currently offered on Selfmora. You can use the free guides below to prepare a conversation or find support.
Prepare for a conversation
A few prompts to help you explain what you have noticed and what you would like help with.
- A simple notes builder
- Copy your notes to keep
- No account needed
You decide how much to write and share.
Find your wordsFind your next kind of support
Explore where to begin with everyday support, professional help or an urgent conversation.
- Ways to ask for help
- Country-specific crisis contacts
- Support at your own pace
If you need urgent help, go straight to support.
Find supportYour first sentence does not need to be perfect.
You can bring a question about the term, a setback or a recurring relationship difficulty. Support is also available if the label has been used about you in a hurtful or confusing way.
Based on MSD Manual Professional
“I want to understand difficulties with my self-esteem and relationships. Can we discuss assessment and a care approach?”Make it sound like you
Your questions, with room for nuance.
You can read just the answer you need.
Can I identify NPD from someone’s online behavior?
No. Posts or a checklist do not supply the history and clinical context needed for diagnosis. Seek support for actual behavior affecting you.
Based on MSD Manuals
Where this information comes from.
Use this hub to learn and prepare questions. It does not diagnose you or recommend a personal treatment plan. By Selfmora editorial; sources checked . Updated .
Additional explanations and examples: sources consulted . Examples illustrate ideas; they do not assess your personal health. Your questions
Our editorial approach