Journal of Forensic Research

The Malignant Narcissistic Dimension in the Antisocial Personality Disorder

Abstract

Simona Trifu

Currently, the Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is at the far right of a continuum in regard to Cluster B personality disorders. Since a hundred years ago the psychotic core / the psychotic potential, due to a lack of reality testing, above a certain threshold, was brought into question. At least transitory psychotic decompensations certainly arise, as we referred to in this presentation. We refer in this paper to theoretical and clinical exemplification on a patient in the “Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia” Psychiatric Hospital in Bucharest, who is under prolonged hospitalization, subject to certain articles of the Code of Criminal Procedure concerning compulsory admission and treatment, as a result of committing a potentially antisocial act. Explanatory perspective is based on the Treaty of Psychodynamic Psychiatry by Glen O. Gabbard, the primitive functioning of this woman raising suspicion of a personality disharmony located at the border between narcissistic (in the malign sense of the word) and anti-sociality. Explanatory concepts bring into discussion the primitive mental functioning, the immaturity of the defense mechanisms and of the thought and the behavior, characteristics of following type: projective identification, Self grandly designed, narcissistic collusion, flas Self, twinning, capacity to feel unconsciously the pulsating movements of the other, transferential – countertransferential dynamic. The aspect of adequacy / temporary loss of contact with reality, the dimension of the intelligence and the intellect of this patient, assessing antisocial acts and their consequences, the possibility to function socially or not, and the quality of the compensatory resources must not be omitted. The study has an explanatory evaluating perspective with comparative implications and rich literature references.