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Treating Depression and Compensatory Narcissistic Personality Style in a Man With Chronic Lyme Disease

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Melissa Jackson

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Jennifer L. Callahan

University of North Texas, Denton

The following case study illustrates a client-centered, cognitive-behavioral approach to the psychological treatment of Mr. M, a 41-year-old male diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, a mood disorder from Lyme disease, and narcissistic personality disorder. Mr. M's personality difficulties are conceptualized as representing compensatory narcissism, a strategic way of coping with feelings of insecurity. The goals of treatment included positively integrating Mr. M's chronic illness into his identity, decreasing depressive symptoms, and improving his interpersonal skills. Treatment was successful in decreasing both Mr. M's depressive symptoms and his narcissistic orientation to thinking and interacting with others.

Key Words: compensatory narcissism • narcissistic personality disorder • idiographic assessment • Lyme disease

Clinical Case Studies, Vol. 6, No. 5, 430-442 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1534650106295847


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