Narcissistic personality disorder

Italian

(source: Wikipedia)

Narcissistic personality disorder is a disturbance which has, as it's principle symptom, a deficit in the ability to feel empathy towards other individuals. This pathology is characterized by a specific perception of self as being “great”. It includes an exaggerated sentiment of ones' own importance and an idealization of self.
In other words, it is a love of self, which from a clinical point of view is based on falsity.  There is also difficulty in making a connection of affection towards another human being.
The person demonstrates a sort of profound egoism of which he or she is not usually aware.  The consequences of this disorder are usually sufficient to create suffering, social discomfort, and significant problems with relationships and affection.

According to the criteria DSM-4 (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual for Mental Disturbances), the diagnosis requires that at least five of the following symptoms are present to create a pervasive pattern which tends to remain constant in different situations and relationships:

• Has an exaggerated sense of self and of ones' own importance
• Is occupied by fantasies of unlimited success, power, impact on others, beauty, or idealized love
• Believes to be “special” and unique, to be understood only by “special” people, and is excessively occupied in searching for closeness with high status people in one or more environments
• Desires and/or asks for excessive admiration compared to that which is normal or related to his/her real value
• Has a strong opinion of his own rights and abilities; has an unrealistic conviction that others should satisfy his expectations
• Takes advantage of others, to reach his own goals
• Lacks empathy; does not realize (does not recognize) and does not consider the sentiments of others to be important; does not want to identify self with their desires
• Frequently feels envy and is generally convinced that others are envious of him/her
• Has a predatory way of expressing affection (unbalanced affective relationships with only a small personal commitment); desires to receive more than what he gives, and that the others are more involved than he is in the relationship.