A diagnosis is made via a medical professional’s evaluation, based on specific criteria.
For medical professionals to diagnose narcissistic personality disorder, individuals must persistently have an inflated view of self-worth, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, as shown by at least five of the following:
- They have an exaggerated, unfounded sense of their own importance and talents (grandiosity).
- They are preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited achievements, influence, power, intelligence, beauty, or perfect love.
- They believe that they are special and unique and should associate only with people of the highest calibre.
- They need to be unconditionally admired.
- They feel entitled.
- They exploit others to achieve their own goals.
- They lack empathy.
- They envy others and believe that others envy them.
- They are arrogant and haughty.
Also, symptoms must have begun by early adulthood.
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