basics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder What is the criterion for NPD?

What is the criterion for NPD?
Not everyone who has narcissistic tendencies has NPD. It is not easy for an ordinary person to tell the difference between someone who has strong narcissistic traits and a person with full blown NPD. It is a condition that can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional and even they can make errors in their diagnosis.

The European diagnostic criterion for NPD is not clearly laid out. In America, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) sets out the criteria for NPD where sufferers exhibit:

"Behaviour or a fantasy of grandiosity, a lack of empathy and a need to be admired by others. As indicated by at least five of the following:

A.Grandiose sense of self-importance.
B.Fantasies of and preoccupied with beauty, brilliance, ideal love, power, or unlimited success.
C.A belief of being special and unique and can only be understood or a need to associate with people of high status.
D.A need for excessive admiration.
E.An unreasonable expectation of being treated with favour or excepting an automatic compliance to her / his wishes.
F.Will use others to achieve her / his goals.
G.Lacks empathy.
H.Believes others are envious of her / him or is envious of others.
I.Contemptuous or haughty attitudes / behaviours."
Often NPD doesn't stand alone. Suffers of NPD may suffer from elements of other personality disorders. This is due mainly to the fact that it is not possible to define an exact set of criteria for each personality disorder which will apply to all cases. Personality disorders are a relatively new field of research and it is likely the criteria used to define specific disorders will change over time.

Most sufferers diagnosed with NPD are men.