Narcissism in Psychiatric Patients and Its Links to Violence and Suicidality
Author Information
Author(s): Svindseth Marit F, Nøttestad Jim Aage, Wallin Juliska, Roaldset John Olav, Dahl Alv A
Primary Institution: Sunnmore Hospital, Norway
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between narcissism and various aspects of psychopathology in patients admitted to acute psychiatric wards?
Conclusion
Narcissism in psychiatric patients is significantly associated with violence, suicidality, and other relevant symptoms for treatment planning.
Supporting Evidence
- High narcissism was linked to severe violence and higher self-esteem.
- Patients with high narcissism had lower levels of depression and suicidality.
- The NPI-21 showed high test-retest reliability, supporting its use as a trait measure.
- No significant differences in narcissism levels were found between patients and a matched control group from the general population.
Takeaway
This study looked at how narcissism affects people in psychiatric hospitals, finding that those with higher narcissism are more likely to be violent and less likely to feel suicidal.
Methodology
The study used interviews and various psychological scales to assess narcissism and its associations with other mental health symptoms in 186 psychiatric patients.
Potential Biases
The low participation rate in the normative sample may affect the representativity of the findings.
Limitations
The NPI-21's external validity needs confirmation, and the study's statistical comparisons may carry a risk of type I errors.
Participant Demographics
41% females, 59% males, mean age 37.3 years, 27% married or cohabiting.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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