A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who has narcissistic personality disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A reason: Ritualistic behavior is linked to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, not narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). NPD involves self-focused grandiosity, not repetitive rituals driven by anxiety. These distinct psychological mechanisms make ritualistic behavior an unlikely finding in clients with NPD during assessment. Choice B reason: Suspiciousness is characteristic of paranoid personality disorder, not NPD. While NPD clients may distrust due to ego threats, this is secondary to their grandiose self-view. Suspicion is not a core NPD trait, as their focus is on admiration, not pervasive mistrust. Choice C reason: Preoccupation with aging is not a primary NPD feature. NPD clients focus on idealized self-image, but aging fears are more tied to body dysmorphic disorder or general anxiety. This preoccupation is not a diagnostic criterion for NPD in psychological assessments. Choice D reason: A grandiose sense of self is a core NPD feature, marked by exaggerated self-importance and entitlement. Driven by fragile self-esteem, this trait leads to behaviors like boasting, as defined in DSM-5 criteria, making it an expected finding during assessment of NPD clients.