Q. My brother-in-law is a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder. He has three young-adult children. Their mom died when they were young. They have put up with years of his raging at them and putting them on pedestals.

I have read that NPD is often passed from parent to child through successive generations. I’m not sure if his children are aware of or understand his personality disorder. Members of my husband’s family recognize this man’s NPD but are unwilling to involve themselves on his children’s behalf.