Social Work as a Supplementary Treatment Option for Narcissistic Personality Disorders

This paper discusses selected scientific aspects of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The main purpose of this research paper is to examine the extent to which patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder can be supported and treated within the framework of social work-based community psychiatry. To this end, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will be used to address the problem of invisible distress and the difficulties of differential diagnosis. Furthermore, psychodynamic and behavioural treatment calculations are outlined. Based on this, differentiated and systematised considerations on concrete possibilities for social work-community psychiatric activities are made. In doing so, a model was developed which can guarantee a solid and goal-oriented orientation on the basis of the lifeworld of patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Finally, possible problems in the effectiveness of social work in the context of Narcissistic Personality Disorder are discussed. The article is presented in the following order: Introduction and problem statement, Theoretical classification and research question, Methodological approach and model, Discussion and conclusions, and Limitations and directions for further research. The findings of this article may be useful for psychologists and social workers to identify and harness the potential of social work as a supplementary treatment option for Narcissistic Personality Disorder.