Episode 012 - Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorders Through an IRT Lens

Summary:In Episode 12 of the Loving Differently Podcast, Dr. Kenneth Critchfield, Ph.D., and Dr. Eliza Stucker-Rozovsky, Psy.D., continue their Personality Harmonics series with a deep dive into Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASD) through the lens of Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT).Rather than treating DSM-5 personality disorders as flat labels, Ken and Eliza explore how these patterns can be understood as developmental and relational adaptations. This episode walks through the prototypic pattern, developmental histories, and exclusionary and inclusionary criteria for both NPD and ASD.This episode is especially relevant for clinicians working with trauma, interpersonal patterns, personality disorders, and challenging therapeutic alliances. It offers an IRT-informed way to hold empathy and accountability together while thinking carefully about case formulation, therapist adherence, and treatment timing.Note: The Loving Differently Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content discussed in each episode is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with either of the hosts. If you are experiencing psychological distress, relationship difficulties, or a mental health emergency, please seek support from a licensed mental health provider in your area or contact your local emergency services.Subscribe for more IRT-focused discussions. Send us your questions at [email protected]:00:00 LDP Episode 012 final02:39 Narcissistic Personality Disorder Overview08:23 NPD Developmental History30:26 IRT Treatment Approach for NPD48:13 Antisocial Personality Disorder57:28 ASPD Developmental History01:09:36 IRT Treatment Approach for ASPD01:21:21 Wrap-Up & What's Next