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delusion of grandeur is a false or unusual
belief about one's greatness. A person may believe, for instance, that they are
famous, can end world wars, or that they are immortal.
Delusions
of grandeur, also called grandiose delusions, often accompany other mental healthsymptoms,
including other delusions. The may be related to mental or physical health
conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or some types of dementia.
In this article, we take a more in-depth look at
delusions of grandeur, the different types, symptoms, causes, and possible
treatments.
What are delusions of grandeur?
A delusion of grandeur is a
false belief in one's importance or greatness.
People experiencing delusions of grandeur see
themselves as great, highly accomplished, more important than others, or even
magical. The delusion may be persistent, or it may appear only periodically.
Some people with delusions of grandeur also experience other
delusions, such as a fear of persecution or unusual religious beliefs.
However, a delusion of grandeur is more than just very
high self-esteem or an inflated sense of self-importance. It marks a
significant disconnection from the real world. A person with delusions of
grandeur may continue to believe in the delusion in spite of contradictory
evidence.
Types
Delusions of grandeur come in many forms. Many people
experience delusions of a similar theme over time.
Delusions of grandeur can manifest in virtually
limitless ways. Some of the most common types include:
·
an
inflated belief in one's own importance, such as having the power to end war
·
a
belief that one is famous or occupies a high position in society
·
a
belief that one is a religious leader
·
a
belief in one's ability to live forever
·
a
false belief that one cannot be harmed by disease or injury
·
an
inflated sense of intelligence
·
a
belief that one possesses magical skills, such as the ability to read minds
Cultural factors can affect the
content of a person's delusions. This is because culture affects a person's
knowledge and what they believe about the world. Something that is considered a
delusion in one culture might not be in another.
Symptoms
A person with delusions of
grandeur may be dismissive of those who do not accept their delusional belief
or beliefs.
A person believing in their own greatness is the
hallmark of a delusion of grandeur.
For the belief to be a delusion, it must be unreasonable
and incorrect. For instance, a person who claims to be president of the United
States, when they clearly are not, is an example of a delusion of grandeur.
There may be other symptoms along with an inflated
false belief of one's own importance. These include:
·
difficulty
getting along with others because of the delusion
·
a
persistent belief in the delusion in spite of contrary evidence
·
dismissal
of or anger at people who refuse to accept the delusional belief
·
persistent
attempts to get others to accept the belief
·
behaving
as if the belief is true
·
experiencing
other delusions
Because delusions of grandeur are usually related to a
mental health condition, most people with this symptom also experience other
mental health symptoms.
An estimated 10 percent of the
general population experience some level of delusions of grandeur. Several
mental health conditions make these delusions much more likely.
Conditions that can cause delusions of grandeur include
the following:
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition
characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and a difficulty distinguishing
reality from fantasy.
Around 50 percent of people
with schizophrenia may experience grandiose delusions.
This condition can cause unusual thought patterns,
changes in mood or behavior, difficulty focusing, memory issues, and
difficulties performing daily tasks. People with schizophrenia may have several
delusions that affect their daily lives.
A 2006 study found
that other mental health factors can alter the content of a person with
schizophrenia's delusions. People with higher self-esteem and less depression were more likely to have
delusions of grandeur, while people with low self-esteem and depression were
more likely to have delusions of persecution.
A similar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, can also cause
delusions and hallucinations. It may be mistaken for schizophrenia.
Delusional
disorder
Similarly to schizophrenia, delusional disorder can
cause delusions of grandeur. People with delusional disorder, however, do not
experience other schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations.
Bipolar
Bipolar is a mental health condition characterized by
periods of depression followed by periods of mania. During times of mania, a
person may have a highly inflated sense of self. This can manifest as a
delusion of grandeur.
Around two-thirds of people
with bipolar disorder may experience grandiose delusions.
During a manic episode, a person with bipolar may also
spend too much money, have trouble sleeping, seem very hyper, or behave
aggressively.
Narcissistic
personality disorder
In most mental health conditions, people with the same
condition can have very different personalities. Personality
disorders directly affect the personality, fundamentally
changing how a person relates to others and themselves.
People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)
have a greatly inflated sense of their own importance. They seek validation and
flattery, believe themselves to be special and unique, and lack empathy.
A person with NPD may have a sense of entitlement that
leads them to act in ways that other people may find objectionable in order to
obtain admiration and special privileges.
Dementia
Most people think of dementia, including Alzheimer's,
as a memory impairment. Yet dementia slowly reduces a person's ability to think
clearly. It can affect much about the way they interact with the world, plan,
and think.
As dementia progresses, some people develop delusions, including delusions
of grandeur. People with dementia who have delusions of grandeur typically have
many other symptoms, including significant memory issues.
Brain injury
Damage to the brain can sometimes change
the way people think, potentially causing delusions. Brain injuries may also
cause hallucinations, memory problems, personality changes, and difficulties
with basic skills, such as reading.
Many brain injuries are due to trauma, such as being
hit in the head during a car accident. Brain lesions, strokes, and brain tumors can also damage the
brain.
Treatment
Attending group therapy may
help a person to build healthier relationships with others.
Treating delusions of grandeur can be difficult. These
delusions may feel good to the person who experiences them. Moreover, because
people with delusions truly believe in their delusions, they are often
resistant to treatment.
Anti-psychotic drugs are often helpful in treating
delusions due to many of the causes. People with bipolar may need to take
drugs, such as lithium, or other mood stabilizers.
Research on treatments for delusional disorder is
limited. A 2014 Cochrane review reports
that there is little high-quality evidence for effective treatments for
delusional disorders.
However, people with delusions may benefit from therapy
to help them cope with their delusions.
Group therapy can help a person to develop healthier
relationships with other people. People with delusions related to personality
disorders may need comprehensive, ongoing therapy to offset the effects that
delusions have on their personality.
Outlook
Delusions can be difficult to treat. Treatment often
focuses on managing and reducing symptoms rather than curing the underlying
condition. Depending on the cause, a person with delusions may need to take
medication or have long-term therapy to manage their symptoms throughout their
lives.
Sometimes one treatment stops working, so a person has
to try a new one. A willingness to experiment and seek help from a trusted
medical provider can help with managing delusions and related symptoms.
A person who experiences delusions is often unaware
that their behavior is not usual, though it can be unsettling for other people
to witness. Because delusions of grandeur make a person feel important, they
may not want to give them up.
Helping a person see how their delusions negatively
affect their life or relationships may help. With support and treatment, people
with delusions can have happy relationships and lives.
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