Narcissistic Personality Test
18 questions based on all 9 DSM-5 NPD criteria · Free · Private · Instant results
Clinical disclaimer: This is a screening tool for educational and self-reflection purposes — not a clinical diagnosis. Only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose NPD. Taking this screen honestly is itself meaningful; many people with strong narcissistic traits cannot.
I expect to be recognised as superior even without commensurate achievements.
Frequently asked questions
What is narcissistic personality disorder?
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a Cluster B personality disorder defined in the DSM-5 by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. NPD affects approximately 1-2% of the general population, with higher prevalence in clinical settings. The disorder exists on a spectrum from less to more severe; many people with strong narcissistic traits do not meet full clinical criteria, but the traits still significantly affect their relationships and functioning. There are two recognised presentations: grandiose narcissism (the more visible, outwardly confident, attention-seeking pattern) and vulnerable narcissism (more covert, hypersensitive to criticism, oscillating between superiority and shame). Both share the core features of fragile self-esteem regulated through external sources, difficulty with genuine empathy, and significant interpersonal impact.
What are the DSM-5 criteria for NPD?
The DSM-5 requires five or more of the following nine criteria for an NPD diagnosis: (1) Grandiose sense of self-importance (exaggerating achievements, expecting recognition without commensurate accomplishment); (2) Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; (3) Belief in being 'special' and unique, only understood by other special people; (4) Requires excessive admiration; (5) Sense of entitlement (unreasonable expectations of favourable treatment); (6) Interpersonally exploitative (uses others to achieve own ends); (7) Lacks empathy (unwilling or unable to recognise or identify with others' feelings); (8) Often envious of others or believes others are envious of them; (9) Demonstrates arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes. These criteria must cause clinically significant distress or impairment, must have been present since early adulthood, and must occur in multiple contexts.
Can NPD be treated?
Yes, but treatment is challenging and requires specialised approaches. NPD has historically been considered one of the more difficult personality disorders to treat, largely because the defensive structure of grandiosity makes patients resistant to seeing themselves clearly. However, modern evidence-based approaches have produced meaningful results. Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) was developed specifically for severe personality disorders including NPD and has the strongest evidence base. Schema Therapy directly targets the early maladaptive schemas (often involving emotional deprivation, defectiveness, or entitlement) that underlie narcissistic patterns. Mentalization-Based Therapy helps patients develop the capacity to recognise and reflect on their own and others' mental states. Treatment typically requires longer engagement than for other conditions (often 3+ years), and the therapist's training matters significantly — generic therapy is often ineffective. Outcomes are best when the patient has some genuine motivation, which is more likely after a significant interpersonal loss or crisis that breaks through the defensive structure.
Is narcissism the same as confidence or self-esteem?
No. This is one of the most important distinctions to understand. Healthy self-esteem is based on a realistic assessment of one's actual qualities, achievements, and worth — it is stable across criticism and doesn't require constant external validation. Healthy confidence allows for empathy, mutual relationships, and the ability to tolerate others' success without feeling diminished. Narcissism, in contrast, is characterised by a fragile self-image that requires constant external regulation — the need for admiration, sensitivity to criticism, and difficulty maintaining a stable sense of worth without continuous reinforcement. The behavioural surface can look like confidence, but the underlying psychology is more like compulsive image-maintenance. A genuinely confident person can hear 'you were wrong about that' without it threatening their identity; a narcissistic person experiences the same feedback as an attack on the self that needs to be defended against. The internal experience is profoundly different.
What is the difference between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism?
Grandiose narcissism is the more visible presentation — outwardly confident, attention-seeking, willing to dominate social space, often charming in initial interactions. People with this presentation seek admiration directly and openly, become visibly angry when criticised, and tend to disregard others' feelings consciously. Vulnerable narcissism (sometimes called covert or fragile narcissism) is harder to recognise. People with this presentation share the same core need for admiration and validation, but it's expressed through hypersensitivity, perceived victimhood, social withdrawal, and quiet contempt rather than overt domination. They may appear shy, anxious, or even depressed on the surface, but the underlying psychology is similar — fragile self-esteem regulated externally, difficulty with genuine empathy, and interpersonal patterns that damage relationships. Most clinicians now consider these presentations as different faces of the same underlying structure rather than separate conditions. Both respond to similar treatment approaches, though vulnerable narcissism often shows more overt distress and may engage with therapy more readily.