Narcissistic Personality Disorder in Older adults / Seniors

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? U.S. adults 55+: 3.9%
Is it more common among older adults / seniors? Prevalence appears to decline with age
Are older adults / seniors at higher risk? Lower than younger adulthood
How much higher is the risk? 55–64 4.9% → 65–74 3.4% → 75–84 3.0% → 85+ 2.6%
How often can it be missed? High
Does it show up differently among older adults / seniors? Yes / Somewhat
How might it look different? Loss of status, health, independence or admiration may expose vulnerability; traits can soften or manifest differently with ageing
What commonly occurs alongside it? Depression; other PDs
What can it be confused with? Depression; cognitive disorders; other PDs
Common screening tool NPI - Narcissistic Personality Inventory
Separate screening tool for older adults / seniors None
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