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Traits of narcissistic vulnerability in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders without intellectual disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

G. Broglia ,
V. Nistico’ ,
B. Di Paolo ,
R. Faggioli ,
A. Bertani ,
O. Gambini  and
B. Demartini
G. Broglia*
Affiliation:
1Health Science Department, University of Milan
V. Nistico’
Affiliation:
1Health Science Department, University of Milan 2Department of Psychology, University of Milan Bicocca 3Aldo Ravelli Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan
B. Di Paolo
Affiliation:
1Health Science Department, University of Milan
R. Faggioli
Affiliation:
4UO Psichiatria 51 e 52
A. Bertani
Affiliation:
5Centro Giovani Ettore Ponti, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Presidio San Paolo, Milan, Italy
O. Gambini
Affiliation:
1Health Science Department, University of Milan 3Aldo Ravelli Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan 4UO Psichiatria 51 e 52
B. Demartini
Affiliation:
3Aldo Ravelli Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan 4UO Psichiatria 51 e 52
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), considering the dimensions of narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability, represents an important differential diagnosis and potential ground of comorbidity, since both conditions show high grades of pervasiveness, a life-long course, ego-syntonic traits, and difficulties in building up and sustaining interpersonal relationships Although the co-diagnosis rates, according to the categorical criteria in use, are limited (0%-6.4%), it is common to encounter diagnostic doubts in clinical practice.

Objectives

Here we aimed to explore both the dimensions of narcissistic vulnerability and grandiosity in a group of adults diagnosed with ASD without intellectual disabilities.

Methods

87 individuals with ASD completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory-52 Items (PNI-52). The mean scores of our sample were compared with the normative distribution available in the literature. Participants also underwent a detailed sociodemographic and anamnestic interview, along with an assessment for autistic traits, comprising the “Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised” (RAADS-R) and the Autism Quotient (AQ).

Results

Individuals with ASD scored significantly higher than neurotypical controls at the Total Score and at the Vulnerable Narcissism subscale, but not at the Grandiose Narcissism subscales. Demographic features did not influence these results. Vulnerable narcissism was significantly associated with the RAADS-R subscale Social Relatedness.

Conclusions

Our findings could potentially be indicative of a greater comorbidity rate between the two disorders with respect to the one reported to date, possibly because DSM-5 criteria are mainly focused on the grandiose dimension. Potential explanatory links between ASD phenomenology and vulnerable narcissism, such as the personality dimension of neuroticism, are discussed, together with the possible role of narcissistic vulnerability in mediating internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression) in individuals with ASD.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S67 - S68
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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