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Lv 5
? asked in HealthMental Health · 10 years ago

How do help a child with NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder)?

He appreciates nothing, has zero empathy for others, and is starting to exhibit sociopath behaviors and habits, (has been for a number of years now). I have compared his behavior with the symptoms listed in the DSM-IV for NPD, and he exhibits 9 of 9 criteria.

Background:

He is 14, single child in a wealthy home. Adopted and raised by his grandparents (my mom). His biological father was abusive when he was very young, and his biological mother is mentally incapable of raising children, hense the infamily adoption.

He does see a therapist for multiple problems, however they have him diagnosed with ADD, and ODD. While these are legitimate problems, I'm concerned that his primary problem of NPD hasn't been addressed or diagnosed. In fact I find it kind of shocking because he is the worst narcissist I've ever met.

I have little tolerance for his overboard attention seeking behavior, and I always come away from visits feeling infuriated at how disrespectful, self-centered, manipulative, and often abusive he acts towards others. Especially my daughter, whom I often have to take extra time to consul her after visitations at my moms house.

My mom often seeks my advise on parenting issues. Strange, my own mother asking me for advise in these areas. I'm planning on introducing her to the idea that my nephew quite possibly has NPD, (no doubt in my mind). However outside of offering my unprofessional diagnosis, I really don't know what else to tell her, other than bring it up with the therapist. I've googled this topic extensively and it seems to me there is no real practical way to treat or correct NPD, especially in children. Its often overlooked because it's normal for young children to be narcissistic. In short I gather it's not a problem until it is a problem, (if that makes any sense), and its becoming a problem.

My relationship with the boy is odd, he both admires and despises me all at once. I didn't understand this until I recently researched NPD. I think he has a lot of potential if he could only apply himself towards a goal that makes him happy without the requirement of an audience.

I'm looking for any advise from people that have to cope with NPD children. Specifically, how to curb the behavior, as well as how to instill and cultivate genuine empathy towards others.

Update:

He is my sisters son. His mom is profoundly deaf, and physically disabled. His biological father, also a narcissist, and a diagnosed pathological liar, has been out of the picture since he was a little baby.

3 Answers

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  • 10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Well, children are not diagnosed with personality disorders. Personality disorders are pervasive and typically cannot be changed much. Children have the ability to change because a person's personality is not fully formed until they are in their mid 20's. Therefore, the best course of action to effect change in this child is to get him into therapy with a good therapist trained to deal with children from troubled homes. ODD and ADD both have symptoms like you have discussed, but ODD can lead to Conduct Disorder if left untreated. Conduct Disorder becomes Antisocial Personality Disorder when the child reaches 18. Therefore, his symptoms are probably closer to APD than NPD.

    Disorders are not diagnosed until there is a problem because the differential diagnosis for all mental health disorders (except a few sexual disorders) is that it has to be causing significant problems in several areas of the person's life. Such as social, familial, work, etc. Therefore, if a person has the symptoms of a disorder, but it is not causing problems in their life, they will not be diagnosed with the disorder.

    Source(s): Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling (rehabilitation)
  • 6 years ago

    I whole heartedly believe a child can have NPD. I know of such a child who is now an adult with NPD. I also believe that caretakers can make it worse by enabling the behavior. I would like to know how your nephew is doing??

  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    Just support him alot and do the best you can to help him. Try taking him out to places to have a good time and try making him laugh, I used to be quite sociopathic (Not the nasty way but didn't really sociolise well) but after going out alot I started to be much happier.

    You don't have to take my advice, I just think it might help him.

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