Narcissistic Vulnerability and Addiction

• Published in: Journal of drug issues Vol. 46; no. 4; p. 396
• Main Authors: Karakoula, Paraskevi, Triliva, Sofia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Addictions; Comorbidity; Mental disorders; Narcissism; Self esteem; Studies; Vulnerability; New York; United States > US
• ISSN: 0022-0426; 1945-1369
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042616659761

The main body of research on addiction and pathological narcissism has focused on the study of their co-occurrence by applying Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM ) definitions for these clinical phenomena or by assessing trait narcissism in substance-dependent populations. Clinically informed comprehensive conceptualizations of narcissism which focus on its phenomenological range from vulnerability to grandiosity have not been applied in studying the specific narcissistic disturbances that underlie the relationship between these comorbid conditions. Aiming to examine this relationship, this study compared the presence of pathological narcissism, and more specifically narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability, in substance-dependent individuals in treatment with individuals from the general population. Comparisons indicate that substance-dependent individuals experience significant narcissistic disturbances more likely related to vulnerability than grandiosity. Shame, rage, and self-esteem contingent upon external validation comprise the intrapsychic and interpersonal vulnerability. Implications for the clinical conceptualization of pathological narcissism as well as for substance dependence treatment interventions are discussed.