Narcissistic Phenomena in Patients with Substance Use Disorder: Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION:

The interplay between pathological narcissism and substance use disorder (SUD) complicates diagnosis and treatment planning. A lack of clarity and consensus surrounding the different forms of narcissism has made it difficult to fully understand their connection. Therefore, this review provides a brief history of the concept of narcissism, it’s manifestation, treatment, interdependencies with SUD and identifies gaps in the literature.

METHODS:

A non-systematic literature review of existing research to synthesize the literature on the relationship between narcissism and SUD was conducted. The search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. A citation tracking technique was used to identify relevant studies published from 1996 to 2022.

RESULTS:

Several overlapping themes between narcissism and SUD were identified, including a vulnerability to negative affect, low selfesteem, and shame. The authors also identified gaps in the literature, including the need for more research on the relationship between specific forms of narcissism and SUD.

CONCLUSIONS:

While research on the relationship between narcissism and SUD has increased in recent years, there is still much to be understood about the different forms of narcissism and their connection with SUD. Clinicians should be aware of the overlapping themes between narcissism and SUD when assessing and treating patients.