Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a long-term pattern of abnormal behavior that includes exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy towards other people. People with NPD usually spend much time thinking about achieving power and success, or on their appearance.They often take advantage of the people around them. Such narcissistic behavior typically begins by early adulthood, and occurs across a broad range of situations.
The causes of narcissistic personality disorder are unknown. The condition of NPD is included in the cluster B personality disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). A diagnosis of NPD is made by a healthcare professional interviewing the person in question. The condition of NPD should be differentiated from mania and substance use disorder.
About one percent of people are believed to be affected with NPD at some point in their lives.It occurs more often in men than in women, and affects young people more often than older people. The narcissistic personality was first described in 1925, by the psychoanalyst Robert Waelder (1900–1967), and the term NPD came into use in 1968.