What Is Remission?
Remission refers to a measurable reduction in the intensity and impact of narcissistic traits or symptoms. Someone in remission may still have some narcissistic features—but these no longer dominate their behavior or disrupt their life and relationships.
What is Remission?
No longer meeting diagnostic criteria:
A person diagnosed with a personality disorder initially meets a specific set of criteria from diagnostic manuals like DSM-III-R or DSM-IV. Remission occurs when they no longer meet these criteria.
Symptom reduction:
While remission means no longer meeting diagnostic criteria, individuals may still experience some symptoms, but at a subclinical level.
Variable duration:
Remission can last for a few months, years, or even the rest of a person's life.
Sustained remission:
Some studies differentiate between remission and sustained remission, with sustained remission often defined as a longer period of time (e.g., at least 2 years for remission, 4 years for sustained remission) without meeting diagnostic criteria.
Recovery vs. remission:
While remission refers to the absence of diagnostic criteria, recovery often refers to a broader concept of good social and vocational functioning, potentially including some residual symptoms but with the ability to function well in various aspects of life.
A person diagnosed with a personality disorder initially meets a specific set of criteria from diagnostic manuals like DSM-III-R or DSM-IV. Remission occurs when they no longer meet these criteria.
Symptom reduction:
While remission means no longer meeting diagnostic criteria, individuals may still experience some symptoms, but at a subclinical level.
Variable duration:
Remission can last for a few months, years, or even the rest of a person's life.
Sustained remission:
Some studies differentiate between remission and sustained remission, with sustained remission often defined as a longer period of time (e.g., at least 2 years for remission, 4 years for sustained remission) without meeting diagnostic criteria.
Recovery vs. remission:
While remission refers to the absence of diagnostic criteria, recovery often refers to a broader concept of good social and vocational functioning, potentially including some residual symptoms but with the ability to function well in various aspects of life.
Harvard NPD Study: Full Remission is Possible
What does real change look like in narcissistic personality disorder? Is it even possible? In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn responds to one of the most persistent myths in the discourse around NPD: that it is untreatable, and that people with NPD never change. Citing a 2024 study published by researchers at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, this video highlights compelling clinical evidence that full remission from NPD can occur in treatment.
Recovery doesn’t mean becoming “un-narcissistic.” It means becoming whole.
NPD Remission and Recovery Rate
New research offers hope:
• Many people with NPD experience significant improvement over time, especially with targeted therapy.
• Some studies show sustained remission in 50–70% of individuals who commit to long-term treatment.
• Traits like empathy, emotional regulation, and self-reflection can and do improve.
Change is slow—but real.
1. Significant Improvement Over Time with Targeted Therapy:
• A study published in the Journal of Personality Disorders examined eight patients diagnosed with NPD who underwent long-term psychotherapy. All patients showed significant improvement in personality and life functioning, including engagement in work or education and long-term close relationships, with remission of the NPD diagnosis. (source)
2. Sustained Remission Rates in Long-Term Treatment:
• Research indicates that individuals with NPD can experience remission over time. For instance, a study found a two-year remission rate for NPD diagnoses of 52%. (source)
3. Improvement in Empathy, Emotional Regulation, and Self-Reflection:
• Studies have shown that individuals with NPD may have impairments in affective empathy, but their cognitive empathy appears preserved. This suggests potential for therapeutic improvement in affective aspects of empathy. (source)
• Research has identified difficulties in emotion regulation among patients with NPD, including issues with impulse control and experiential avoidance. Addressing these aspects in treatment may help individuals receive more benefits from therapy. (source)
These findings highlight that while change is gradual, individuals with NPD can achieve meaningful improvements in their symptoms and overall functioning through committed, long-term therapeutic interventions.
Research about treatment for NPD and narcissistic traits is severely lacking. Never let lack of research influence your own personal journey in recovery. The narratives we tell ourselves impact us greatly, and by telling ourselves we can’t recover we are reinforcing stigma and misinformation, and also indulging in self sabotage.
New research offers hope:
• Many people with NPD experience significant improvement over time, especially with targeted therapy.
• Some studies show sustained remission in 50–70% of individuals who commit to long-term treatment.
• Traits like empathy, emotional regulation, and self-reflection can and do improve.
Change is slow—but real.
1. Significant Improvement Over Time with Targeted Therapy:
• A study published in the Journal of Personality Disorders examined eight patients diagnosed with NPD who underwent long-term psychotherapy. All patients showed significant improvement in personality and life functioning, including engagement in work or education and long-term close relationships, with remission of the NPD diagnosis. (source)
2. Sustained Remission Rates in Long-Term Treatment:
• Research indicates that individuals with NPD can experience remission over time. For instance, a study found a two-year remission rate for NPD diagnoses of 52%. (source)
3. Improvement in Empathy, Emotional Regulation, and Self-Reflection:
• Studies have shown that individuals with NPD may have impairments in affective empathy, but their cognitive empathy appears preserved. This suggests potential for therapeutic improvement in affective aspects of empathy. (source)
• Research has identified difficulties in emotion regulation among patients with NPD, including issues with impulse control and experiential avoidance. Addressing these aspects in treatment may help individuals receive more benefits from therapy. (source)
These findings highlight that while change is gradual, individuals with NPD can achieve meaningful improvements in their symptoms and overall functioning through committed, long-term therapeutic interventions.
Research about treatment for NPD and narcissistic traits is severely lacking. Never let lack of research influence your own personal journey in recovery. The narratives we tell ourselves impact us greatly, and by telling ourselves we can’t recover we are reinforcing stigma and misinformation, and also indulging in self sabotage.
