Dear Principal John Deacon's Official Diagnosis

To the regular readers, today's column is being turned over to Dr Hans von Schlaggel from Vienna, Austria. Dr von Schlaggel is currently the director of the Institut für schweren psychiatrischen Erkrankungen, or in English, Institute of Severe Psychiatric Disorders. Dr von Schlaggel has been a reader of the blog since its inception and has graciously diagnosed Dear Principal John Deacon's deep embedded psychiatric disorder and will share it here today. So without any further ado, please welcome the good doctor.

Danke, Herr Teacher in the Bronx, and guten tag to all the loyal followers of this blog. I hope this afternnoon finds you well.

After studying the Dear Principal John Deacon for several months I have come to the conclusion that it suffersx from what we say in German, bösartigen Narzissmus, or in English, malignant narcissism. This is a very severe form of mental disorder and usually incuruable, but treatable. But shall we, how do you say in English, oh ja, describe the symptoms. My lovely assistant Frau Helga helped me with that word. She is wonderful.

Malignant Narcissism is usually when four other personality disoders abound. It includes, nariccistic personality disorder (NPD), anti-social features, paranoid traits, and ego-syntonic aggression. Let's examine each of these seperate disorders to see how I came aboutthe diagnosis of malignant narcissism.

1.Nariccistic Personality Disorder (NPD) Five or more of the following traits must be indicated by the patient. I have highlighted in red what applies to Dear Principal John Deacon

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is "special".
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement
6. is interpersonally exploitative
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

2. Anti-Social Behavior, or Anti-Social Personality Disorder. Three of the following traits must indicate. Traits pertaining to Dear Principal John Deacon are again highlighted in red.

1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;
2. Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;
3. Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;
4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;
5. Reckless disregard for safety of self or others;
6. Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;
7. Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.

3. Paranoia, or Paranoid Personality Disorder. For of the following traits must be indicated.

• Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her
• Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates
• Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her
• Reads benign remarks or events as threatening or demeaning.
• Persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights
• Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack
• Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.

4. Ego syntonic Aggression.

As one with anorexia will deny that he or she has a problem, so too does Dear Principal John Deacon deny that it has a problem. The ego is in conflict with the id.

So I thank you readers very much and the author of this blog for giving me a forum. Remember, those with Malignant Narcissism can internalize both aggressive and idealized superego precursors, leading to the idealization of the aggressive, sadistic features of the pathological grandiose self. Remember one with malignant narcissism should be considered part of a spectrum of pathological narcissism.