NEED ASSISTANCE TO FINISH OFF
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Provide a brief summary of your case scenario.
Judge Scott Donahue /57/ diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder
Scott was a prominent figure in the community. He was looked up to by members of his church. His peers adored him. He put dangerous criminal behind bars. As a young man he was in the military for 20 years. He was extremely put together. He wore nothing but the best suits, Gucci, Givenchy, or Armani. Shinny shoes, nail manicured, and face always shaved. He was married with 3 children. He thought they were just as good looking as he was. He was also a narcissist. He believes he was above the law. He would take bribes from other wealthy community leaders to sway outcomes of court cases. He was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years in prison. He was more upset about the uniform he had to wear then going to prison.
While in prison he became a recluse and feared he would be talked about and targeted by others. Scott believe he was superior to everyone else in prison. He thinks that he should be treated different than others. He believes he is to intelligent and no one is on his level. He thought others were stupid. He thought his brain was a computer and he was on an inland called inferior island. He would often talk about himself to others as their superior. He believes it was other people’s fault that he was in jail and he was the victim. He is aggressive towards others that don’t believe him when he speaks about his many accomplishment or don’t agree with him at all. He thinks that other people are out to get him for his intelligence. He started to seek out people who wants to learn from him and get educated by him and what he has to offer. Come to find out he was really manipulating people to do what he wanted them to do. If he is criticized for anything his behavior would become cold, insulting, threatening and enrage. He doesn’t think I the therapist can understand him because I too am not as accomplished as he is.
Describe the behaviors associated with narcissistic personality disorder that were shown in the case scenario.
SCOTTs personality traits
Thought he was superior to Everyone, even in prison.
Aggressive when no one believes or listens to him
Sam believed he was above the law.
Fears he will be targeted
Seeks others like himself to hang with and teach his ways.
Manipulations
Believes he should be treated different because he is the victim.
Dsm-5 characteristics
Exaggerated sense of self
Preoccupied with unrealistic images of power and success
Finds others inferior to them
Believe he or she is special and unique and requires excessive admiration from others
Not very good at having empathy,
Not interested in trying to understand how other people feel just make their beliefs known.
Narcissistic personality disorder is defined as an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and a great need for admiration. The hallmark definition of narcissistic personality disorder is grandiosity – the exaggerated sense of self-importance. NPD is also defined as a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.
Judge Scott Donahue was a viewed a prominent Judge. Being admired by the community the Judge was also taking bribes from community members to persuade the results of the court cases he presided over.
Donahue was known to wear nothing but the best of the best clothes and was always well manicured. After his conviction for bribery and a 7 year sentence, he only complained of the hideous uniform he was made to wear.
While incarcerated, it was made known that Donahue felt he was superior to everyone in prison and should be treated differently. He also believed that it was other peoples fault that he was incarcerated, and he was the victim. When Donahue told others of his accomplishments and the ignored or didn’t believe him, he exploded and became aggressive towards others. He also rejected all forms of criticism from others and sought out others who were to believed to be just like him. Scott Donahue saw himself as a very successful man with a well put together family.
According to the DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association. (2013), Narcissistic Personality Disorder is described as the following:
A belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions
A need for excessive admiration
A sense of entitlement
Interpersonally exploitive behavior
A lack of empathy
Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her
A demonstration of arrogant and haughty behaviors or attitudes
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
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Describe difficulties you may face while working with this inmate or offender.
Describe possible ways this inmate or offender may use manipulation in the correctional setting
Seek weak inmates that look up to him and use them as pawns for manipulation
Make up lies about oneself to make them self look superior to others
belittle, criticize and judge other inmates
Use their charm to pressure people into giving them what they want
Engage in showing off, name dropping and status boasting
Become difficult, confrontational and uncooperative
Exaggerate their talents or achievements
Play the victim and blame others for their actions
Exploit others
Describe possible treatment interventions for this inmate or offender, as well as the pros and cons of each.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
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