No specific laboratory studies are used to diagnose NPD. Nevertheless, in view of the high incidence of substance abuse in patients with this disorder, a toxicology screen to rule out drugs and alcohol as possible causes of narcissistic character pathology is generally recommended.
The diagnosis of NPD is often made after obtaining a history of narcissistic symptoms from pertinent sources (including the patient, the patient's family and friends, and the clinician's own observations). However, more specific personality tests can also be used to facilitate diagnosis. Some debate surrounds the usefulness and reliability of these tests, but they can be helpful in elucidating character pathology outside the strict confines of the criteria listed in the DSM-5.
For more on the workup of NPD, read here.
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Cite this: Stephen Soreff. Psychiatry Fast Five Quiz: What Do You Know About Narcissistic Personality Disorder? - Medscape - Oct 19, 2016.
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