Personality Test Narcissistic Personality Disorder 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a core diagnostic criterion for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) according to the DSM-5?
- Persistent sadness and hopelessness
- Grandiose sense of self-importance (Correct answer)
- Fear of abandonment
- Recurrent self-harm behaviors
Correct answer: Grandiose sense of self-importance
A grandiose sense of self-importance — expecting recognition as superior without commensurate achievements — is a hallmark DSM-5 criterion for NPD.
Question 2: In NPD, 'lack of empathy' refers to:
- Inability to feel any emotions
- Unwillingness or inability to recognize others' feelings and needs (Correct answer)
- Excessive emotional sensitivity
- Avoiding social interactions
Correct answer: Unwillingness or inability to recognize others' feelings and needs
NPD involves a pervasive inability or unwillingness to acknowledge others' emotional experiences, contributing to exploitative relationships.
Question 3: The term 'narcissistic supply' in clinical literature refers to:
- Prescribed medications for NPD
- Attention and admiration that individuals with NPD seek from others (Correct answer)
- A financial resource used in therapy
- A type of cognitive distortion
Correct answer: Attention and admiration that individuals with NPD seek from others
Narcissistic supply is the admiration, validation, and attention that individuals with NPD seek to maintain their inflated self-image.
Question 4: Which prevalence estimate best reflects NPD in the general US population?
- Less than 1%
- 1–6% (Correct answer)
- 10–15%
- 20–25%
Correct answer: 1–6%
Studies estimate NPD prevalence in the general population at approximately 1–6%, with higher rates in clinical and forensic settings.
Question 5: The DSM-5 requires how many of the nine NPD criteria to be met for a diagnosis?
- 3
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 7
- All 9
Correct answer: 5
DSM-5 requires the presence of five or more of the nine listed criteria for an NPD diagnosis.
Question 6: Which therapy approach has the strongest evidence base for treating NPD?
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (Correct answer)
- Short-term medication management only
- Behavioral activation therapy
Correct answer: Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy
Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy — which addresses underlying vulnerabilities and defenses — has the most clinical support for treating NPD.
Personality Test Narcissistic Personality Disorder 1
Which of the following is a core diagnostic criterion for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) according to the DSM-5?