DSM III and the narcissistic personality.

In order to achieve more understanding of the term narcissistic personality, particularly as it relates to DSM III, the works of Kohut and Kernberg are examined in much detail. Focus is placed on descriptive and dynamic aspects of these works, along with the question of the relationship of the narcissistic personality to the borderline. The descriptive aspects of both Kohut's and Kernberg's works are each recast in a symptom-oriented check-list approach, to provide direct comparisons to DSM III. The DSM III criteria for the narcissistic personality are found to nicely represent a descriptive compilation of the work of these two predominant psychoanalysts. Although the DSM III criteria do not yet supply reliability or validity, they do describe a distinct group of patients, appear highly useful clinically, and are viewed very favorably.