No, there's no specific medication for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) itself, but medications like antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, or mood stabilizers can effectively treat related symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or mood swings, which often accompany NPD, with therapy being the primary treatment, according to Mayo Clinic and Harvard Health.
How to Not Be a Narcissist
There are no medicines specifically used to treat narcissistic personality disorder. But if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety or other conditions, medicines such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines may be helpful.
Can you live with a narcissist spouse? As long as there aren't abusive patterns in the relationship, it is possible to make a relationship work when your partner has narcissistic personality disorder.
Narcissistic traits often peak in late adolescence and early adulthood (around ages 14-23), particularly with grandiosity and entitlement, as individuals seek identity and status, but then tend to decline as people mature and face life's realities, though some individuals with NPD may see intensification in these years before a potential mellowing in middle age.
Like other personality traits, narcissism is moderately heritable and partly rooted in early emerging temperamental traits (33). Some children, because of their temperamental traits, might be more likely than others to become narcissistic when exposed to parental overvaluation (16, 21).
Based on some overlapping symptoms, borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are two mental health disorders that are often mistaken for one another.
The "3 E's of Narcissism" refer to three core traits often seen in individuals with narcissistic tendencies: Empathy impairment, a profound lack of understanding or sharing of others' feelings; Entitlement, a belief they deserve special treatment and admiration; and Exploitation, using others for personal gain without guilt. These characteristics highlight how narcissists often struggle to connect emotionally, feel superior, and manipulate people to meet their own needs.
Adaptive narcissism is when a person with this disorder leans into positive traits—such as self-sufficiency and confidence—that can actually be healthy. They may help someone set high ambitions at work, for example, or enjoy satisfying relationships without being overdependent on a partner.
The 5 main habits of a narcissist center on an inflated self-image, need for adoration, lack of empathy, sense of entitlement, and manipulative behavior, often seen as grandiosity, constant need for admiration, inability to understand others' feelings, expecting special treatment, and exploiting people for personal gain. These traits, rooted in Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), create a cycle of seeking validation, demeaning others, and using manipulation for control.
Complications of narcissistic personality disorder, and other conditions that can occur along with it include:
Treating NPD usually involves some form of mental health therapy (psychotherapy). Some of the therapy types that are most common with NPD include (but aren't limited to) the following: Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Empathize with Their Feelings
It is extremely soothing to Narcissists when you demonstrate that you understand and empathize with how they feel. But..do not insert anything about how the situation makes you feel, or anything about you at all unless it is an apology.
When you stop giving a narcissist attention, they feel a profound sense of loss, as their self-esteem relies on external validation, leading them to escalate tactics like manipulation, charm, guilt-tripping, and smear campaigns to regain control, but with consistent boundaries, they may eventually lose interest and move on, though the initial withdrawal often involves intense attempts to re-engage you.
What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?
This is perhaps the most damaging thing a narcissist will do when you start standing up for yourself – they'll make you question your own sanity. They'll imply, or even outright state, that you're overreacting, being irrational, or even losing your mind. This is a form of gaslighting and it's incredibly harmful.
While this may be true for some, narcissists can display many different traits and characteristics, and some may appear to be generous and kind. This type of narcissist is known as an altruistic narcissist because of their 'good deeds', although they are likely to have an ulterior motive.
Narcissists like the idea of love and long-term partnerships because of the potential constant fill of their narcissistic supply. However, their lack of empathy and ability to focus on anyone but themselves make it impossible to build the healthy relational dynamics required for real love.
This is the first meta-analysis linking the Dark Triad traits to happiness. Narcissism relates to significantly greater happiness (small to medium effect size). Machiavellianism is not significantly related to happiness. Psychopathy relates to significantly lower happiness (small to medium effect size).
The number one trait of a narcissist is often considered a grandiose sense of self-importance (grandiosity) combined with a profound lack of empathy, where they see others as tools for their own gain and have an inflated, often unrealistic, view of their own superiority, needing constant admiration without acknowledging others' feelings or needs, as highlighted by HelpGuide.org and The Hart Centre. This core creates other behaviors like entitlement, manipulation, and arrogance, making them believe they deserve special treatment.
12 signs of narcissism
As a Harvard-trained psychologist, I've found that there are seven phrases you'll hear from highly narcissistic people:
Focusing on individual ACEs, in males, all maltreatment experiences were associated with narcissistic rivalry, with the exception of physical neglect, while in women only emotional maltreatment and emotional neglect were significant. Associations with household dysfunction were shown only in men.
The most overlooked symptom of narcissism is aggressive, habitual non-listening, where they talk excessively and dismiss or interrupt others with phrases like "but..." to regain control, masking deeper issues like fragility and a need for admiration, especially in covert or vulnerable types who often appear charming but are inwardly insecure. It's overlooked because it's subtle, masked by faked interest, and often mistaken for simple rudeness rather than a core disorder driven by a fragile self-image and lack of empathy.
The 10 Harmful Traits of a Narcissist (With Real-Life Impact)