Narcissism and Its Discontents: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Treatment Strategies With Narcissistic Patients - Softcover

Glen O. Gabbard; Holly Crisp-Han

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1615371273 ISBN 13: 9781615371273

Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2018

Synopsis

The definition of narcissism can be a moving target. Is it an excess of self-love? Profound insecurity? Low self-esteem? Too much self-esteem? Because of the multifaceted nature of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), treating this disorder presents clinicians with a range of wholly unique challenges. Narcissism and Its Discontents recognizes the variable nature of NPD and provides a template for adjusting treatment to the patient rather than shoehorning the patient into a manualized treatment that may prove to be less effectual. This guide offers clinicians strategies, including transference and countertransference, to deal with the complex situations that often arise when treating narcissistic patients, among them, patient entitlement, disengagement, and envy. The authors provide a skillful integration of research and psychoanalytic theory while also addressing psychotherapeutic strategies that are less intensive but also useful -- being cognizant of the fact that a majority of patients do not have access to psychoanalysis proper. A chapter on the cultural aspects of narcissism addresses the recent societal fascination with NPD in the discourse on politics and celebrity, particularly in the age of social media. Regardless of the treatment setting -- psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, partial hospital, or inpatient -- clinicians will find a wealth of approaches to treating a diverse and challenging patient population in Narcissism and Its Discontents.

About this title

About the Author

Glen O. Gabbard, M.D., is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He is also Training and Supervising Analyst at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston. He is in the full-time private practice of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy. Holly Crisp, M.D., is Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She is on the faculty at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston. She is in the full-time private practice of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy.

From the Inside Flap

Integrating contemporary research with psychoanalytic theory, Narcissism and Its Discontents offers clinicians strategies for dealing with the complex situations that can arise when treating patients with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). The very act of defining narcissism can be a difficult one, owing to the pleomorphic nature of NPD. This guide recognizes the challenge and provides a number of psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic approaches -- including transference and countertransference -- to adjust treatment to the patient rather than constraining clinician and patient by strictly adhering to a manualized treatment.

A chapter on the cultural aspects of narcissism addresses the recent societal fascination with NPD in the discourse on politics and celebrity, particularly in the age of social media. Regardless of the treatment setting -- psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, partial hospital, or inpatient -- clinicians will find a wealth of approaches to treating a diverse and challenging patient population in Narcissism and Its Discontents.

About this edition

• Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1615371273
• ISBN 13: 9781615371273
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 360