Pathological Narcissism and Sudden Suicide-Related Collapse

This article presents the cases of 3 nondepressed young men each of whom had attempted suicide. Defects in affect-regulatory functions & evidences of pathological narcissism were identified & explored. Each patient denied intent to kill himself, none acknowledged experiencing depression or a wish to die, & each one denied his suicidal behaviour involved significant risks. The interrelation between pathological narcissism & this particular suicidal behaviour is discussed. (54 refs.)