Stability of narcissistic personality disorder: Tracking categorical and dimensional rating systems over a two-year period.
Abstract
Personality disorders are characterized as temporally stable patterns of symptoms (APA, 2000). However, evidence on the stability of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is generally lacking. This study tracked the prevalence and remission rates of individual criteria for NPD over the course of 2 years. In addition, the stability of dimensional personality pathology in patients with NPD (assessed with the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology, DAPP-BQ) was assessed over time. A sample of 96 patients with a diagnosis of NPD was recruited at baseline. Forty patients participated in the follow-up assessment 2 years later. Our results indicate a moderate remission rate (53%) for NPD as a categorical diagnosis. However, single NPD criteria differed in their prevalence and temporal stability, similar to findings for other personality disorders. Moreover, scores on dimensional subscales of the DAPP-BQ remained stable over time. Theoretical implications are discussed.
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Studies have documented the persistence of narcissistic pathology, even among patients who improve symptomatically.
“Overall, studies (Table 2) (76–83) have documented the persistence of narcissistic pathology, even among patients who improve symptomatically.”
From Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as [80]
Age is a likely moderator of outcome in NPD, as younger samples have shown slightly more improvement.
“Age (80–82) is a likely moderator of outcome, as younger samples have shown slightly more improvement (82).”
From Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as [80]
In Vater et al. (2014), a prospective 2-year study found a 53% remission rate for categorical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
“NPD categorical diagnosis: 53% remission rate”
From Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as Vater et al., 2014 ( 80 )
In Vater et al. (2014), a prospective 2-year study found a stable course for dimensional diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder.
“NPD dimensional diagnosis: stable course”
From Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as Vater et al., 2014 ( 80 )
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- Authors
- Vater, A., Ritter, K., Strunz, S., Ronningstam, E. F., Renneberg, B., & Roepke, S.
- Affiliations
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment
- Published
- 2014
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 305-313
- ISSN
- 1949-2715 (ISSN-L)
- 1949-2723
- OpenAlex
- W2141936573
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 2.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Keywords
- narcissistic personality disorder, temporal stability, remission, categorical diagnosis, longitudinal follow-up
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Personality Disorders, Remission, Spontaneous, Prevalence, Disease Progression
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