Is there an association between the level of grandiose narcissism severity of psychopathology?

Abstract

Background: Narcissism is a personality trait associated with both psychological health and resilience as well as with aggression and interpersonal problems. Aim: This study compares levels of total narcissism and subscale scores in inpatients, outpatients and a community sample. Methods: Inpatients (N = 186) were recruited from consecutively admitted patients to two closed units, and the outpatient group (N = 144) consisted of patients attending a psychiatric outpatient clinic. The patients and a normative community sample (N = 437) all filled in the Narcissistic Personality Inventory questionnaire (NPI-29). Results: The NPI total and subscales scores showed considerable gender differences. Among men only the Uniqueness/Entitlement subscale showed significant group differences, with inpatients showing higher mean score than the two other groups. Among women three factors, Leadership/Power, Superiority/Arrogance, and Uniqueness/ Entitlement, showed significant differences between the different levels of psychopathology. The outpatient female group regularly had the lowest group mean scores. The NPI-29 scores of the normative group showed weak internal consistencies. Conclusion: Our hypothesis of a significant association between mean levels of total narcissism and subscale scores and severity of psychopathology was not supported.

• Community sample
• Inpatients
• Narcissism
• Outpatients
• Psychopathology
• Self-report

Declaration of interests: The study was supported by a research grant from Innlandet Hospital Trust. The study of inpatients data was supported by Central Norway Regional Health Authority as PhD grant.

Authors’ contributions: I.O. participated in the design, collected data and drafted the manuscript of the study. M.F.S. participated in the design, collected data, and gave input to the manuscript. A.A.D. participated in the design, performed statistical analyses and helped to draft the manuscript of the study. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.