title: Type A coronary-prone behaviour pattern and pathological narcissism.
abstract: Type A coronary-prone behaviour pattern exhibits many of the features of neurotic repetition compulsion. Thus, it is often maladaptive and tends to be compulsive, inflexible, irrational and ultimately non-satisfying. There is a notable similarity between the descriptions of Type A individuals in the behavioural literature and narcissistic individuals in the psychoanalytic literature. It is postulated that Type A individuals may have a deficient self-representation. This psychodynamic formulation of Type A as a variant of pathological narcissism has implications for assessment, prevention and management. In particular, it may help discriminate a sub-group of high achievers who are neurotically motivated and have abnormally high arousal. Only this sub-group may be at increased risk of coronary pathology.
mesh_terms: D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology; D009289:Narcissism; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012306:Risk; D012649:Self Concept; D014434:Type A Personality