Psychopath and Narcissist Survivors Support Group

thomaskieler · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

Hello Mr. Vaknin,

I have another question for you.

You wrote that it is not possible to healing adult NPD. But it is possible to healing it when therapy start in childhood.

Do you think there is something like a “age line” and before healing is possible and behind not?

And when yes what would you say is perhaps the age when it is an adult NPD and so Healing is not possible?

Thanks for answer.

samvaknin · Site Admin Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 2316

We must carefully distinguish between the narcissistic traits of adolescents - narcissism is an integral part of their healthy personal development - and the full-fledge disorder. Adolescence is about self-definition, differentiation, separation from one's parents, and individuation. These inevitably involve narcissistic assertiveness which is not to be conflated or confused with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

"The lifetime prevalence rate of NPD is approximately 0.5-1 percent; however, the estimated prevalence in clinical settings is approximately 2-16 percent. Almost 75 percent of individuals diagnosed with NPD are male (APA, DSM IV-TR 2000)."

From the Abstract of Psychotherapeutic Assessment and Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder By Robert C. Schwartz,Ph.D., DAPA and Shannon D. Smith, Ph.D., DAPA (American Psychotherapy Association, Article #3004 Annals July/August 2002)

However, as the narcissist grows old and suffers the inevitable attendant physical, mental, and occupational restrictions, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is exacerbated.

I would say that age 18-21 is a critical watershed. Beyond that age, curing true NPD is literally impossible. But, this is merely an educated, anecdotal guess. There are no hard data available to support it.

Healing Narcissism

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/faq63.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/faq77.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/faq70.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/faq12.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/10.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/case03.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/faq31.html

http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/abusefamily8.html

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders37.html

http://samvak.tripod.com/personalitydisorders45.html

Take care there!

Sam