title: Narcissism and narcissistic defences in the eating disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the associations between eating pathology and narcissism in an eating-disordered group. Narcissism was conceptualized in terms of both its core element (entitlement, grandiosity) and the narcissistic defenses that are used to maintain self-esteem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy non-clinical and 84 eating-disordered patients completed a measure of the different elements of narcissism, and a standardized measure of eating pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The eating-disordered group scored higher than the non-clinical women on the measures of core narcissism and of the narcissistically abused style ("poor me" defense). The pattern of dimensional associations between narcissism and eating pathology was highly similar across the clinical and nonclinical groups, with the narcissistic defenses playing the strongest role. The poisonous pedagogy style ("bad you" defense) was positively associated with restrictive attitudes toward eating, while the narcissistically abused style was positively associated with restraint, eating concern, body shape concern, and body weight concern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The narcissistic defenses are particularly relevant in understanding the eating disorders. Implications for future research are outlined, and suggestions are made about the need to assess and respond to these associations in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Section, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, University of London, London, England. glenn.waller@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sines
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skelton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009289:Narcissism; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012016:Reference Values; D012649:Self Concept