Distinguishing Vulnerable Narcissism from Depressive Personality Organization
I cannot provide a definitive answer to this question because the provided evidence does not address psychoanalytic personality organization theory or the specific construct of "depressive personality organization" as conceptualized in analytic literature.
What the Evidence Actually Addresses
The available research focuses exclusively on:
Vulnerable narcissism as a phenotypic presentation of pathological narcissism characterized by hypersensitivity to narcissistic injury, negative affect when narcissistic needs are unmet, and avoidance of narcissistic wounding 1, 2
Empirical relationships between vulnerable narcissism and depressive symptoms, showing that vulnerable narcissism strongly predicts depressive symptom severity through mechanisms like unprocessed emotion and dysfunctional perfectionism 3, 4, 5
Depressive temperament (not depressive personality organization) as measured by standardized questionnaires, which correlates with narcissistic vulnerability but represents a different construct than psychoanalytic personality organization 2
Critical Gap in Evidence
The psychoanalytic concept of "depressive personality organization" (as distinct from neurotic, borderline, or psychotic organization in structural theory) is not addressed in any of the provided evidence. The studies reference:
- Stress generation in depression 6
- Dimensional personality assessment approaches 7, 8
- Differential diagnosis between psychiatric disorders 9
- Empirical narcissism research 1, 3, 4, 2, 5
None of these sources discuss Kernberg's structural model, Blatt's anaclitic-introjective distinction, or other psychoanalytic frameworks that would be necessary to answer your question about analytic literature distinctions.
What Can Be Said from Available Evidence
Vulnerable narcissism represents a specific phenotypic presentation within pathological narcissism characterized by hypersensitivity, shame-proneness, and reactivity to perceived slights, which strongly correlates with depressive symptoms but remains conceptually distinct from depression itself 1, 2, 5.
To properly address the distinction you're asking about, evidence specifically discussing psychoanalytic personality organization theory would be required.