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The Road from Pathological Narcissism to Suicidality in Adolescence: An Empirical Study

Author

Listed:
  • Riccardo Williams

    (Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, “Sapienza”—University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Maria Pia Casini

    (Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, I.R.C.C.S. Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, 27100 Rome, Italy
    Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Human Neuroscience, “Sapienza”—University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Marta Moselli

    (Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, “Sapienza”—University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Camilla Frattini

    (Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, “Sapienza”—University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Elsa Ronningstam

    (Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA)

Abstract

Background: Clinical and empirical research evidenced a complex link between pathological narcissism and the suicidal process in adulthood. Given the relevance of suicidality and the peculiar narcissistic vicissitudes of adolescence, the proposed research investigated the relationship between pathological narcissism analyzed from the multi-dimensional perspective of the Diagnostic Interview for Narcissism (DIN) and suicidal ideation conducted in a sample of Italian Adolescents. Methods: One hundred and three Italian male and female adolescents between 12 and 18 were administered the DIN, SCIDII, CSSRS, and Kiddie-SADS with six months follow-up. Results: The correlation, t -test, multiple regression analyses evidenced the association of narcissistic affective states and mood with both suicidal ideation and lethality of conduct. The increase in the dimension of grandiosity is associated with the passage to potentially highly lethal suicidal gestures. Conclusions: Suicidal ideation and conduct seem to serve the function of restoring a sense of control and self-esteem in narcissistic individuals experiencing a state of affective dysregulation. Narcissistic pathological functioning seems to play an important role in the adolescent suicidal process, quite like adulthood. Assessing an adolescent’s narcissistic functioning may provide useful clinical information in understanding and managing the suicidal risk in this phase of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Williams & Maria Pia Casini & Marta Moselli & Camilla Frattini & Elsa Ronningstam, 2021. "The Road from Pathological Narcissism to Suicidality in Adolescence: An Empirical Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9761-:d:636867
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    Cited by:

    1. Annalisa Tanzilli & Guido Giovanardi & Eleonora Patriarca & Vittorio Lingiardi & Riccardo Williams, 2021. "From a Symptom-Based to a Person-Centered Approach in Treating Depressive Disorders in Adolescence: A Clinical Case Formulation Using the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2)’s Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-19, September.

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