NPD: Relations with distress and functional impairment. Miller Campbell Pilkonis

[CZBZ]

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Relations with distress and functional impairment

Joshua D. Miller, Ph.D. and W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D. and Paul A. Pilkonis, Ph.D.

Abstract:

"This study examined the construct validity of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) by examining the relations between NPD and measures of psychological distress and functional impairment both concurrently and prospectively across two 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, while Sample 2 (N=151) was composed of both psychiatric patients (46%) and individuals from the community. NPD 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 psychological distress were (a) small, especially in concurrent measurements, and (b) largely mediated by impaired functioning. NPD 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.

Conclusion: These results suggest that it is accurate to think of NPD as a pathological personality style that predicts impaired functioning across a variety of life domains. This impaired functioning appears largely to explain NPD’s weak but significant relation with intrapersonal distress. Importantly, the strongest impairment associated with NPD is the distress or “pain and suffering” experienced not by the narcissist but by his or her significant others. In fact, the suffering experienced by others is uniquely predicted by NPD when controlling for other PDs. It appears that there are traits specific to NPD that are especially difficult to tolerate when faced regularly."

Click HERE to retrieve document online

[LDW]

These findings suggest that NPD is a maladaptive personality style which primarily causes dysfunction and distress in interpersonal domains.

Yup, definately...

[CZBZ]

My reaction to their 'findings' was:

"NO DUH!"

I guess as long as a psychologist has research to substantiate our allegations as victims of narcissists, then our suffering is considered valid. 

This is one of the most confusing things for therapists and layfolks alike: the narcissist, who we believe ought be suffering because of their anti-social behavior, is NOT suffering.

If they are NOT suffering, even though they've ripped other people to shreds, thrown away partners and children and family members, pooped on friends and co-workers and neighbors, well...does that mean their personality style is not pathological? They aren't complaining, right? As far as they're concerned, every lousy thing they ever did to someone was justifiable.

At least researchers are giving credibility to the suffering other people experience with a narcissist. At least they're taking a look at our experience as having more to do with the narcissist's abuse than our hyper-sensitivity (or whatever diagnosis they give someone who points fingers at a narcissist.)




Hugs,
CZ

[LDW]

The 'pressure of suffering' (lijdensdruk) is not much to none for a narc, so they don't need any psychological help... and that's probably why psychologists and psychiatrists have no clue on this matter.

I wish I had been more hyper sensitive... I probably would have left the intolerable pain, dysfunction, suffering and distress much earlier ;-)

[Jacintae]

Hi

I agree that most of us here are not hypersensitive. Sensitive, yes, but I think most of us are generally strong, determined, high functioning women. Why else would an N be attracted to us? For me, anyway - I now think that it was my strength above all that attracted him. And I did put up with a huge amount of undermining and real suffering with that guy, but I always found the strength to pick myself up again. In the end though - I had started to unravel, I had gone beyond the limit of my endurance and could see no way back to sanity. In desperation I began to really try to explain things to the N and that was the sign to him to start to D & D me. Once I started to show weakness and confusion - he did not want to know.

I often wonder what would have happened to me if I had not found this site. I would simply have thought I had gone crazy, lost the plot in life and was generally washed up in every area of my life. Even I could not see that it was the N's problems that were causing my problems. If I had gone to a therapist, I don't think I would even have mentioned the N - I would have said that it was me, myself who was having a breakdown and because of that I was having trouble with the N.

And sometimes I still fall back into that thinking. But the more I look at it, the more I realise that it was my strength not my weaknesses that got me into such a mess. Still, it's not all bad - that same strength is now getting me back out of the mess and life is getting so much better for me.
Love to all
Jac xx

[LDW]

Hello Jac,

You're absolutely right, I went through te same proces, first you don't know, you're left baffled, then you think "what's wrong with me, what did I do?", then the anger over what has been done to you takes over, then you relapse into thinking "why did I attract such a monster" and "why did I not run for the hills when his behaviour became pathological" and finally you realise that the Narc wants everyone (it's not personal!) he feels envious of to be in a bad state. They have a perverse need to exploit and destroy the strong, happy-go-lucky people in this world. It's a game to them. And it's weird because you remember the good times and all the wonderful things you've done together, this was the phase in which he tried to identify with all your qualities and convinced himself and you that you were meant to be together. Once you were in (bait) he made the switch and the controlling begins. I thank god I did not have a family with this guy and the nightmare that comes with it, I am not sure if I would have survived mentally.

Hang in there Jac, it will get better and better, the only way is up.

L