Can narcissists and psychopaths be cured? Can their behaviour be modified? How are these mental health disorders diagnosed?

Narcissism is a modern epidemic, and it’s spreading rapidly. But how do you know if you are in a relationship with one—and, what can you do about it? We live in a world of romance and rescue, where many believe love will conquer all, and that the more we endure unacceptable behavior, the more likely that we can “fix” our relationships. It doesn’t always work that way—despite what the fairy tales tell us. There are a few hard facts about pathological narcissism that most people don’t know and most psychologists will never tell you. Should I Stay or Should I Go? uses checklists, clinical wisdom, and real stories from real people to prepare you for the real terrain of pathological narcissism. It raises the red flags to watch for and provides a realistic roadmap for difficult situations to help you reclaim yourself, find healing, and live an authentic and empowered life. Whether you stay. Or go.

Who is the devil you know? Is it your lying, cheating ex-husband? Your sadistic high school gym teacher? Your boss who loves to humiliate people in meetings? The colleague who stole your idea and passed it off as her own? In the pages of The Sociopath Next Door, you will realize that your ex was not just misunderstood. He’s a sociopath. And your boss, teacher, and colleague? They may be sociopaths too. We are accustomed to think of sociopaths as violent criminals, but in The Sociopath Next Door, Harvard psychologist Martha Stout reveals that a shocking 4 percent of ordinary people—one in twenty-five—has an often undetected mental disorder, the chief symptom of which is that that person possesses no conscience. He or she has no ability whatsoever to feel shame, guilt, or remorse. One in twenty-five everyday Americans, therefore, is secretly a sociopath. They could be your colleague, your neighbor, even family. And they can do literally anything at all and feel absolutely no guilt. How do we recognize the remorseless? One of their chief characteristics is a kind of glow or charisma that makes sociopaths more charming or interesting than the other people around them. They’re more spontaneous, more intense, more complex, or even sexier than everyone else, making them tricky to identify and leaving us easily seduced. Fundamentally, sociopaths are different because they cannot love. Sociopaths learn early on to show sham emotion, but underneath they are indifferent to others’ suffering. They live to dominate and thrill to win. The fact is, we all almost certainly know at least one or more sociopaths already. Part of the urgency in reading The Sociopath Next Door is the moment when we suddenly recognize that someone we know—someone we worked for, or were involved with, or voted for—is a sociopath. But what do we do with that knowledge? To arm us against the sociopath, Dr. Stout teaches us to question authority, suspect flattery, and beware the pity play. Above all, she writes, when a sociopath is beckoning, do not join the game. It is the ruthless versus the rest of us, and The Sociopath Next Door will show you how to recognize and defeat the devil you know.

Its previous edition hailed as "the best reference for the majority of practicing psychiatrists" (Doody's Book Reviews) and a book that "more than any other, provides an approach to how to think about psychiatry that integrates both the biological and psychological" (JAMA), The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry has been meticulously revised to maintain this preeminence as an accessible and authoritative educational reference and clinical compendium. It combines the strengths of its three editors -- Robert Hales in clinical and community psychiatry, Stuart Yudofsky in neuropsychiatry, and new co-editor Glen Gabbard in psychotherapy -- in recruiting outstanding authors to summarize the latest developments in psychiatry and features 101 contributors, 65 of whom are new to this edition. The book boasts a new interior design, with more figures and color throughout to aid comprehension. Each chapter ends with 5-10 key points, 5-10 recommended readings, and helpful Web sites not only for the clinician but also for patients and family members. The book also includes complimentary access to the full text online. Online benefits include powerful searching, electronic bookmarking, and access by username and password from wherever you have Web access -- especially convenient for times when the print copy of your textbook is not where you are. The online version is accompanied by a downloadable PowerPoint presentation, which contains a wealth of material to enhance classroom presentation, study, and clinical use. Among the improvements to this edition's content: • Of the text's 44 chapters, 23 either feature new topics or have new authors, making this the most completely revised edition yet.• New basic-science chapters on cellular and molecular biology of the neuron and on neuroanatomy for the psychiatrist conveniently distill essential information on the biological foundations of psychiatric disorders for clinicians.• A new chapter on human sexuality and sexual dysfunctions, and another new chapter on treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender patients, equips clinicians to address the entire spectrum of sexual issues and their attendant mental health concerns.• New chapters on nonpharmacological somatic treatments, supportive psychotherapy, and combination psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy augment the section on psychiatric treatments.• A new chapter on the assessment of dangerousness -- an individual's propensity to commit violent acts -- presents helpful guidelines for appropriately evaluating and minimizing the risk of violence in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Why The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry will be your first choice among comprehensive psychiatry textbooks: • Complimentary Access to the Full Text Online -- Online benefits include powerful searching, electronic bookmarking, and download to PDA.• PowerPoint Presentation -- Online version is accompanied by a downloadable PowerPoint presentation, which contains a wealth of material to help you enhance classroom presentation, study, and in clinical use. • Self-Assessment -- An interactive online Self-Assessment allows you to assess your knowledge of each chapter, with links back to the textbook when more study is needed.• Summary Points -- Each chapter ends with 5-10 key points, 5-10 recommended readings, and helpful web sites not only for the clinician but also for referral to patients and family members. • Co-Editor Glen O. Gabbard, M.D. -- As the third Co-Editor, Dr. Gabbard adds depth and perspective to psychotherapeutic approaches.• Chapter Authors -- Partnership of senior and junior faculty brings fresh insights tempered by wisdom and experience.• Peer-Reviewed -- Rigorously peer reviewed and updated to reflect the rapidly changing profession. • Disclosure of Interest Statements -- Disclosure from each chapter author assures you that potential biases have been removed.• Comprehensive But Concise -- Inclusion of essential information eases information overload.• Better Layout -- Larger type for text makes book easier to read and color figures are provided throughout the text. It's no wonder that this text has established itself as both a leading scholarly reference and an indispensable clinical resource. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry is a proven teaching tool and an essential component of every practitioner's library.

From the author of Whole Again comes a significantly expanded edition of Psychopath Free—containing new chapters, updated content, and real survivor experiences—that will help you recover from emotionally abusive relationships with narcissists, sociopaths, and other toxic people. Have you ever been in a relationship with a psychopath? Chances are, even if you did, you would never know it. Psychopaths are cunning charmers and master manipulators, to the point where you start to accept the most extreme behaviors as normal...Even if it hurts you. All around us, every single day, human beings devoid of empathy are wreaking havoc and destroying lives in the coldest, most heartless ways imaginable. In constant pursuit of money, sex, influence, or simple entertainment, psychopaths will do whatever it takes to gain power over others. They hide behind a veil of normalcy, arranging their friends and partners like pawns in a game of chess. Using false praise and flattery to get what they want, they can lure any unsuspecting target into a relationship. Once hooked, their charming promises spin into mind games and psychological torture. Victims are left devastated and confused, unable to recognize—or even put into words—the nightmare that just took place. Written from the heart, Psychopath Free is the first guide for survivors written by a survivor, offering hope for healing and thriving after psychopathic abuse. Say goodbye to the chaos, self-doubt, and victimization. You are free.

How to identify abuse, cope with it, survive it, and deal with your abuser.