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Cited by 278Personality Disorders and PsychopathologyPersonality Traits and PsychologyPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Narcissistic personality disorder: relations with distress and functional impairment

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Miller, Joshua D., Campbell, W. Keith, Pilkonis, Paul A.·2007·Comprehensive Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.comppsych.2006.10.003PMC PMC1857317
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Abstract

This study examined the construct validity of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) by examining the relations between NPD and measures of psychologic distress and functional impairment both concurrently and prospectively across 2 samples. In particular, the goal was to address whether NPD typically "meets" criterion C of the DSM-IV definition of Personality Disorder, which requires that the symptoms lead to clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning. Sample 1 (n = 152) was composed of individuals receiving psychiatric treatment, whereas sample 2 (n = 151) was composed of both psychiatric patients (46%) and individuals from the community. Narcissistic personality disorder was linked to ratings of depression, anxiety, and several measures of impairment both concurrently and at 6-month follow-up. However, the relations between NPD and psychologic distress were (a) small, especially in concurrent measurements, and (b) largely mediated by impaired functioning. Narcissistic personality disorder was most strongly related to causing pain and suffering to others, and this relationship was significant even when other Cluster B personality disorders were controlled. These findings suggest that NPD is a maladaptive personality style which primarily causes dysfunction and distress in interpersonal domains. The behavior of narcissistic individuals ultimately leads to problems and distress for the narcissistic individuals and for those with whom they interact.

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  • Relatives of people diagnosed with NPD report increased distress and frustrated dependency striving.

    “Relatives of people diagnosed with the disorder report increased distress and frustrated dependency striving (5, 42).”

    From Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as [5]

  • The dismissal of measures of so-called normal narcissism as nonpathological appears to result from overemphasizing subjective distress while underemphasizing impairment and distress caused to others.

    “The dismissal of measures of so-called normal narcissism as nonpathological appears to be the result of overemphasizing the role of subjective distress while underemphasizing the role of impairment and distress caused to others (Miller et al. 2007).”

    From Controversies in Narcissism (2017) · cites this paper as Miller et al. 2007

  • Grandiose narcissism/NPD is associated with poor ability to understand one's own mental states and the mental states of others.

    “Grandiose narcissism has been associated with poor ability to understand one’s own mental states and the mental states of others.”

    From Symptom severity and mindreading in narcissistic personality disorder. (2018) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Social impairment may function as a mediator between narcissism and personal distress.

    “Considering that previous research studies have highlighted that social impairment may function as a mediator between narcissism and personal distress [15], envy may prove to be linked to symptomatic distress as an emotional marker of social impairment.”

    From Symptom severity and mindreading in narcissistic personality disorder. (2018) · cites this paper as [15]

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Authors
Miller, J. D., Campbell, W. K., & Pilkonis, P. A.
Affiliations
University of Georgia (US)
ORCID
Venue
Comprehensive Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-03
Volume
48
Issue
2
Pages
170-177
ISSN
0010-440X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.comppsych.2006.10.003
PMC
PMC1857317
OpenAlex
W2167855484
Cited by
278
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
FWCI
12.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Comprehensive Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH044672, R01MH056888, R01 MH56888, R01-MH-44672)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
narcissistic personality disorder, construct validity, psychological distress, functional disability, depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, cluster B personality disorders, psychiatric patients, community sample
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Disorders, Personality Inventory, Sex Factors, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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