title: An examination of the factor structure of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, narcissistic personality disorder criteria: one or two factors?
abstract: A growing body of research has suggested that narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) contains 2 factors or types: overt/grandiose and covert/vulnerable. A recent factor analysis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), NPD symptoms supported a similar 2-factor model. The present research tested this proposed 2-factor solution against a 1-factor solution (N = 289; 72% patients) using both confirmatory factor analysis and an examination of associations between the resultant factors and theoretically relevant criteria (other personality disorders; depression, anxiety). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported a 1-factor solution. Likewise, the 2 factors each yielded a similar pattern of correlations with relevant criteria. Together, these results argue against a 2-factor structure for the current DSM-IV NPD symptoms. Given the broader research literature suggesting a 2-factor structure of narcissism, strategies for assessing both overt/grandiose and covert/vulnerable forms of narcissism in DSM-V are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. jdmiller@uga.edu
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: W Keith
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pilkonis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009289:Narcissism; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology