Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Last reviewed Saturday, October 24, 2026Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a lasting pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration and low empathy. It starts by early adulthood, shows up across work, family and relationships, and causes serious problems. It’s uncommon, found in about 1 to 2 in 100 adults, and only a clinician who has assessed the whole person can diagnose it.
Also called: NPD. WHO’s ICD-11 has no separate NPD; it describes one personality disorder, with narcissistic traits mostly under “dissociality”. “Narcissist” is an everyday word, not a diagnosis.
Our full guide, Narcissist: Meaning, NPD and What to Do in Nigeria, covers relationships, abuse and getting help; Narcissist or NPD? explains the word versus the diagnosis.
Signs and symptoms
The American manual, DSM-5-TR, looks for at least five of nine features:
- an inflated sense of importance, and fantasies of unlimited success, power or ideal love
- believing they’re special, needing excessive admiration, and feeling entitled
- exploiting others, and lacking empathy
- envy, or believing others envy them, and arrogant behaviour
Many people show both a bold, grandiose side and an anxious, easily shamed side. “Covert narcissist” is a popular name for the second, not a diagnosis.
Treatment
No treatment is proven for NPD yet. Therapists use approaches such as psychodynamic, schema and mentalisation-based therapy, and other experts have questioned the first randomised trial (2026). Medicine isn’t recommended for NPD itself, though a doctor may treat depression alongside it. Many people first come to therapy for something else, such as depression or a relationship crisis. Narcissism tends to soften with age.
In Nigeria
There’s no Nigerian estimate of how common NPD is. “Narcissist” is a common label for a difficult husband, wife, boss or parent, but behaviour seen in one relationship isn’t enough for a diagnosis. What matters is the behaviour: belittling, control and threats are emotional abuse, which the VAPP Act 2015 and most state laws make an offence.
NPD vs narcissism and borderline personality disorder
Everyone has some narcissistic traits, on a scale. NPD is the rigid, extreme end, where the traits cause serious harm. Borderline personality disorder also strains relationships, but centres on intense, fast-changing emotions and an unsteady sense of self.
When to get help
If you’re in danger from someone at home, call 112 (or 767 in Lagos). Our helplines page lists domestic violence services.
If someone’s behaviour is hurting you, you can book a licensed therapist on Mytherapist.ng for relationship and marriage counselling or recovery from abuse. If you worry the label fits you, a therapist who works with personality disorders can help.
Read next
This entry is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.
