5 Common Misconceptions about NPD

Heal NPD

In this episode, Dr. Ettensohn addresses 5 common misconceptions about pathological narcissism and NPD:

1. NPD is not a mental illness

2. NPD is not treatable

3. Even if NPD is treatable, actual healing is impossible

4. All individuals with NPD are abusers

5. People with NPD change their behavior behind closed doors, so they can't be mentally ill

Using authoritative mental health resources like the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, National Institutes of Health, and the Domestic Abuse Hotline; as well as reference to peer-reviewed literature, Dr. Ettensohn discusses each of these misconceptions and why they are mistaken.

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Cited References:

Alexander. (n.d.). Abuse and mental illness: Is there a connection? National Domestic Violence Hotline. https://www.thehotline.org/resources/abuse-and-mental-illness-is-there-a-connection/

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text revision). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.

American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What is mental illness? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Splitting. APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/splitting

Cooper, A. M., & Michels, R. (1988). [Review of Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.)]. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 1300-1301.

Freud, S. (1914). On narcissism. SE, 14, 67-102. London: The Hogarth Press.

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Information about mental illness and the brain. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20369/

Ronningstam, E. & Weinberg, I. (2013). Narcissistic personality disorder: Progress in recognition and treatment. Focus: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 11(2), 167-177.