Delusions of Grandeur
Grandiose delusions are beliefs a person holds that would mean he or she is somehow better or more important than anybody else, where in reality it isn’t true. Many different types of grandiose delusions exist, and despite their diversity, they all stem from dissociation with reality. A man could have grandiose delusions, for example, if he believes that other people talk about or pay special attention to him. This belief could be related to an inability to interpret social signals correctly, or it could be massively delusional — for example, if he believes he holds some mystical power over others. Often, grandiose delusions could be a symptom of a wider psychotic disorder like schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder.
Stompe and colleagues (2006) found that grandiose delusions appeared more commonly in patients with bipolar disorder (59%) than in patients with schizophrenia (49%), followed by presence in substance misuse disorder patients (30%) and depressed patients (21%).
A relationship has been claimed between the age of onset of bipolar disorder and the occurrence of GDs. According to Carlson et al. (2000), grandiose delusions appeared in 74% of the patients who were 21 or lower at the time of the onset, while they occurred only in 40% of individuals 30 years or older at the time of the onset.
According to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for delusional disorder, grandiose type symptoms include grossly exaggerated belief of: * self-worth * power * knowledge * identity * Or exceptional relationship to a divinity or famous person.
For example, a person may believe they are God, an important politician, a rock star, a scientist etc. and will believe that they hold strong authority or power on the people around them and sometimes even entire countries [e.g. they believe they are the president of a country.]
Delusions of grandeur can be a symptom of a number of different psychological conditions. It is also referred to as megalomania and
Stompe and colleagues (2006) found that grandiose delusions appeared more commonly in patients with bipolar disorder (59%) than in patients with schizophrenia (49%), followed by presence in substance misuse disorder patients (30%) and depressed patients (21%).
A relationship has been claimed between the age of onset of bipolar disorder and the occurrence of GDs. According to Carlson et al. (2000), grandiose delusions appeared in 74% of the patients who were 21 or lower at the time of the onset, while they occurred only in 40% of individuals 30 years or older at the time of the onset.
According to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for delusional disorder, grandiose type symptoms include grossly exaggerated belief of: * self-worth * power * knowledge * identity * Or exceptional relationship to a divinity or famous person.
For example, a person may believe they are God, an important politician, a rock star, a scientist etc. and will believe that they hold strong authority or power on the people around them and sometimes even entire countries [e.g. they believe they are the president of a country.]
Delusions of grandeur can be a symptom of a number of different psychological conditions. It is also referred to as megalomania and