Wow! eBook
The Comprehensive Handbook of Psychodynamic Approaches to Pathological Narcissism
Author(s): Rakhitha Rajapakse (Author)
- Publication Date: 1 Jun. 2026
- Language: English
- Print length: 390 pages
- ISBN-10: B0H3K75CY3
Book Description
The Comprehensive Handbook of Psychodynamic Approaches to Pathological Narcissism offers a complete and detailed exploration of the understanding and treatment of narcissistic pathology from a psychodynamic perspective. Written as a singular scholarly achievement, this volume traces the concept of narcissism from its origins in the Greek myth of Narcissus through Freud’s foundational work to the major contributions of Kohut, Kernberg, and contemporary psychoanalytic thinkers. The handbook is organised into nine sections covering every essential domain including historical and conceptual foundations, developmental pathways and aetiology, clinical features and phenomenology, assessment and case formulation, treatment considerations, major treatment approaches, special issues such as malignant narcissism and narcissistic rage, and future directions in research. Readers will gain in-depth knowledge of the distinction between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, the role of shame and empathy deficits, early object relations and attachment patterns, and the use of assessment tools including the Pathological Narcissism Inventory and the structural interview. Detailed chapters present major treatment modalities such as Transference-Focused Psychotherapy, Kohut’s Self Psychology, Mentalization-Based Treatment, Schema Therapy, Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, and Group Psychodynamic Therapy. Special attention is given to countertransference management, therapeutic boundaries, the therapeutic alliance, suicidality, termination issues, and working with specific populations including adolescents, the elderly, forensic settings, and narcissistic leadership. This handbook serves as an essential clinical reference for psychodynamically oriented clinicians, researchers, and students seeking a thorough, integrative, and practical guide to understanding and treating pathological narcissism.
