Schizoid and narcissistic features in personality structure diagnosis

Objective: This study examines the relationship between schizoid and narcis sistic personality features. While the schizoid personality disorder seems widely accepted as a diagnostic category, the utility of the narcissistic p ersonality disorder construct is under discussion. We regard schizoidism as a primary, structural disturbance of interaction with the world, whereas n arcissism appears as a secondary phenomenon of self-organization and self-r egulation. This study focuses on the question, whether these features are c orrelated or interact with each other in personality structure. Method: A s tandardized narcissism inventory is being applied to a group of schizoid an d non-schizoid patients. Results: Only 1 of 18 narcissism scales differenti ates significantly between these patient groups. By cluster analysis, the g roup of schizoid patients is divided into two subgroups characterized by th eir higher or lower narcissism scores. These are contiguous to existing des criptions of an active/fighting and a passive/evading schizoid subtype. Con clusion: 'Schizoid' and 'narcissistic' personality features can be regarded as distinct, but complementary personality conditions. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.