Psychotherapeutic case formulation: Plan analysis for narcissistic personality disorder

Grandjean, Loris; Hummel, Jana; Wyer, Dominik; Beuchat, Hélène; Caspar, Franz; Sachse, Rainer; Berger, Thomas; Kramer, Ueli (2021). Psychotherapeutic case formulation: Plan analysis for narcissistic personality disorder. Personality and Mental Health, 15(4), pp. 309-316. Wiley 10.1002/pmh.1521

[img]
Preview
Text
Personality_Mental_Health_-_2021_-_Grandjean_-_Psychotherapeutic_case_formulation_Plan_analysis_for_narcissistic.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works (CC-BY-NC-ND).

Download (775kB) | Preview

BACKGROUND: One of the relevant case formulation methods for personality difficulties is plan analysis. The present study aimed at delivering a prototypical plan analysis for clients presenting with a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). The sample consisted of 14 participants diagnosed with an NPD. Based on audio clinical material, we developed 14 individual plan analyses that we then merged into a single prototypical plan analysis. For explorative purposes, we ran an ordinary least squares regression model to predict the narcissistic symptoms severity (NAR) measured on a scale of 1-7 of the 14 clients by the presence (respectively absence) of certain plans in their individual plan analysis. The synthesis revealed that clients with pathological narcissism share common basic motives. Results of the regression model reveal that the presence of the plan 'be strong' reduces the NAR scale by 1.52 points (p = 0.011).

DISCUSSION: In the treatment of psychological disorders, precise case formulations allow therapists for making clinically appropriate decision, personalizing the intervention and gaining insight into the client's subjective experience. In the prototypical plan structure we developed for NPD, clients strive to strengthen their self-esteem and avoid loss of control, criticism and confrontation as well as to get support, understanding and solidarity. When beginning psychotherapy with a client presenting with NPD, the therapist can use these plans as valuable information to help writing tailored, and therefore more efficient, case formulations for their patients presenting with an NPD.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology > Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Grandjean, Loris Noël, Caspar, Franz, Berger, Thomas (B)

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1932-8621

Publisher:

Wiley

Language:

English

Submitter:

Melanie Best

Date Deposited:

01 Feb 2022 11:22

Last Modified:

29 Mar 2023 23:38

Publisher DOI:

10.1002/pmh.1521

PubMed ID:

34145790

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/164131

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/164131

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback