Megalomania symptoms and signs in women. Certain forms of mental disorder

I don't have delusions of grandeur. Great people don't suffer from this

Translated from Greek, megalomania or megalomania is translated as a great exaggeration or great madness, in which a person, in his self-awareness and behavior, shows an inflated assessment of his significance, importance, fame, influence in politics, wealth. A sick person can consider himself omnipotent and believe in it!

How not to miss the first symptoms of megalomania?

We often use the words “delusions of grandeur” in everyday life, but the person who declared himself Napoleon does not always suffer from this disease.

Most likely, this condition is caused by the presence of acute mental disorder, delusional-hallucinatory syndrome. But if a person declares himself the savior of the world or says that he has created a medicine for eternal life, then this is a reason to wonder if he is suffering from megalomania?

Main causes of the disease

This condition can also be caused by an inferiority complex, manic-depressive psychosis or paranoia. The primary symptoms of the disease are almost invisible. But in the future, when the disease begins to progress and clinical manifestations appear, the person may fall into severe depression or begin to develop dementia.

The causes of megalomania are often associated with neuroses, schizophrenia, or previous traumatic brain injuries, progressive paralysis. Experts identify three main reasons why a person develops delusions of grandeur:

Hereditary predisposition

Alcohol or drug addiction

Heightened self-esteem

Clinical signs of "great madness"

The main symptoms by which one can determine that a person suffers from delusions of grandeur are his fixation on the importance of his person, for the team and the whole world, his exclusivity. And his words and actions will tell about this, with which he will try to inform everyone around him about how brilliant and unique he is! At the same time, he will sincerely believe in what he says and will not consider his behavior irrational.

Megalomania manifests itself on the physical, mental and emotional levels, thus:

High activity

Too high self-esteem

Instability in the emotional sphere

Negative and violent reaction to any type of criticism

Rejection of different opinions

Bad dream, insomnia

Depression, thoughts of suicide

Delusions of grandeur can end very badly for the patient. Since this disease often turns into a severe form of depression caused by debunked illusions, when the patient loses confidence in his importance and begins to think about suicide. This condition is very difficult to tolerate, so the patient needs help and urgent hospitalization to prescribe a course of treatment.

Types of mental disorders manifested by delusions of grandeur

As noted in the studies, megalomania most often manifests itself in men. Their symptoms are more pronounced, and their behavior is always aggressive, and is expressed not only in emotional, but also physical violence. The manifestation of the disease in women is milder and can be expressed in the form of a belief in one’s own irresistibility, erotomania. Sometimes the object of mania becomes a certain famous person, a movie star, a politician, etc.

Most known types megalomania are:

Paraphrenic delirium

Messiah syndrome or messianic delusion

Manichaeism

Diagnostic methods and treatment methods

This mental disorder can only be diagnosed by a qualified specialist in psychiatry, after talking with the patient, a detailed picture of his feelings and routine, way of life, and listening to complaints. Conversations are also being held with his relatives.

Megalomania or megalomania is a disease that cannot be cured, but the course of drug therapy is always aimed at the causes of its occurrence, which will help cope with neurosis and reduce the manifestation depressive state and psychosis. Psychotherapy sessions are also conducted aimed at adjusting the patient’s consciousness in order to return him to normal life. In particularly difficult cases, the person must be placed in the psychoneurological department of the hospital.

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Megalomania as a personality quality is a tendency expressed extreme overestimation of one's importance, fame, popularity, wealth, power, genius, political influence, even omnipotence.

They bring a man to a psychiatric hospital, the doctor asks him: “Who are you?” - I'm Napoleon! - Oh, no, we already have a whole room of Napoleons, you should go home. - Doctor, you don’t understand, - I AM CAKE!

Patient at a psychiatrist's appointment: - Doctor, I suffer from delusions of grandeur! - What do you know about megalomania, pathetic little man!

If we discard clinical cases, delusions of grandeur turn into an effective recipe to prove to ourselves and everyone our undeniable greatness in something: in power, in strength, in wealth, in a special social position, in rare abilities, in famous ancestors. It is based on faith, but faith does not correspond to reality, therefore a person with manifest delusions of grandeur does not adequately perceive reality. Megalomania is not considered a specific mental disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. But often it can be a sign of a mental disorder (a type of paranoia). May be characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, genius, or omnipotence.

From the story of one psychologist: “One madam told me that she is generally capable, and everything comes easy to her.” To my question, in comparison with whom she is capable, with Copernicus or with her neighbor Ivan Ivanovich, she answered with irritation, and after several ridicule, with tears. (So megalomania can be easily treated in rare cases.) Another said: “It’s a pity that I’m not ugly, and how hard it is when men constantly pester you.” (?!) One of my friends boasted: “I prefer Japanese technology.” By Japanese equipment, as it later turned out, he meant a VCR, a TV and a Honda made in 1985, i.e. no more than what the “lazy” person has. The next one claimed that he was already talking at six months old, that he was a unique child in the city of Bakhchisarai, that he was the best in school! One claimed that she herself was bright and spectacular, like Sophia Loren, and her height was like Marilyn Monroe (delusions of grandeur in an incurable form). The next one claimed that he had been working with China for five years. I asked: “Ambassador?”, knowing that he has a company of five people who are illegally transporting something from China... In general, they are making money. He completely ignored my question. And another friend of mine, having mastered a computer in order to earn $300 for hire, exclaimed in a fit of delight: “Maybe you don’t have to be so smart, then life will be easier?!” When I reassured her that she was slandering herself greatly in this regard, she was offended.

Delusions of grandeur distort reality. This is done different ways, the most common of which is exaggeration. Maxim Gorky wrote: “A person who considers his toothache to be the misfortune of the whole world is clearly inclined to exaggerate events.”

Megalomania is the daughter of pride. Three monks praying. One says: “Lord, who am I before You?” A weightless speck of dust, which cannot be seen with the eye, which is driven by the wind through this world, I am just a speck of dust. The second monk said: “God, how small I am before Your Majesty!” The smallest, insignificant atom that is lost in the abyss of space. I am an atom. The third prays: “God, how tiny I am before You!” I'm a little worm. The first two monks looked at each other and said to each other: “Look at his delusions of grandeur.” This proud man with delusions of grandeur considers himself a whole worm.

Megalomania is a disease of the mind. The female mind, for example, is overwhelmingly convinced that its thoughts and feelings have absolutely no value at all. Just as the dog from the cartoon Prostokvashino believed that a gun costs money, and his life is free, so women believe that sharing their thoughts with someone, and especially keeping a diary, also makes no sense and slightly smacks of delusions of grandeur. The woman thinks: “If I write down my thoughts and feelings, those around me, when they learn about it, will say that I am schizophrenic.” It's not really about greatness, it's about a woman's ability to realize that her thoughts and feelings are important. If they are not in demand now, it is not a fact that after a while someone will not be interested in them.

The psychiatrist asks the patient: - Tell me, are there any cases of megalomania in your family? - Sometimes the husband declares that he is the head of the family.

- Doctor, I am very, very grateful to you for the fact that you were able to cure me of delusions of grandeur. - From now on, I am the most unsurpassed, fantastic, phenomenally humble person.

- I don’t have delusions of grandeur. Great people don't suffer from this. Ah, no. They still suffer so much.

There lived a king named Alexander the Great. He was a courageous warrior and thought that he must gather armies to conquer the world and acquire a great name in world history - "Conqueror of the whole world." So he began his campaign and was victorious. But after ten years of continuous battles, he conquered such a huge part of the world that his armies and himself were tired. Then he decided to return home, take a rest for four or five years, leaving unconquered lands, and continue the conquest in a second campaign. On the way home he fell ill and there was no way to help him. He came face to face with death. The king asked the wise men who stood around him in a dejected state: “What will happen to this huge kingdom that I acquired with such great effort, and what will happen to my treasures: jewelry, pearls, diamonds and gold, and all the slaves I captured?” ? Then the sages answered: “This is natural.” What happens to you happens to all people. Even kings more powerful than you could not take anything with them from this world. This is in accordance with the law, there is nothing to worry about. You should only worry if something unusual happens to you.

The king regretted that he did not know all this. The sages said: - This is also not new. Everyone must leave this world, but no one knows that he must leave, and leave empty-handed. The king was very upset. Everything he had worked for for ten years, day and night, fighting and fighting, was in vain. If there is anything terrible in the world, it is war. So he did this terrible work for ten years and could not enjoy its fruits for a single moment. If he reached his kingdom, he could enjoy his treasures for a year or two. It would give him some satisfaction. But now he was dying on the way home. It would be better if he lived in this small kingdom, enjoying life without caring about his “greatness.” If he had done so, he would not have to suffer.

A holy man sat next to the upset king. He told him: “My dear king, if your life ended now, it would be very good.” But what's done is done. And a new big scary page of life opens for you. You should not worry about the past, but should start worrying about the upcoming tragedy. Then the king was even more amazed and asked: “What is this?” The saint replied: “Hundreds and thousands of people were killed in these wars, and all this happened on your orders.” Hundreds and thousands of women remained widows. Countless children became orphans or homeless, and you created tragedy after tragedy during these ten years. Now all responsibility lies with you, and you will pay for everything and everyone, as the law says: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a nail for a nail.” And how long you will have to suffer for everything you have done will be determined in accordance with the law. This is truly the worst thing that awaits you.

Peter Kovalev

Manias (manic states)– a type of mental disorder manifested by mental and motor restlessness of varying degrees of severity and high spirits. Manias are united by a common feature - increased attention and desire for something: one’s own safety, significance, sexual pleasure, surrounding objects or activities.

Characteristics of mania:

Increased mood. Often this is causeless unbridled fun, euphoria. Periodically it is replaced by anger, aggression, and bitterness.
Accelerating the thought process. Thoughts come frequently, and the intervals between them become shorter. A person seems to jump from one thought to another. Accelerated thinking entails speech excitement (shouting, incoherent speech). People with mania tend to be verbose, willing to communicate about the subject of their desire, but due to racing thoughts and high distractibility, it becomes difficult to understand them.
Physical activity– physical disinhibition and high motor activity. In many patients, it is aimed at obtaining pleasure, which is associated with mania. Psychomotor activity may range from some fussiness to extreme agitation and disruptive behavior. Over time, a person may experience aimless thrashing, fussiness, and fast, poorly coordinated movements.
Lack of a critical attitude towards one's condition. A person considers his behavior to be completely normal even in the presence of significant deviations.

As a rule, mania has an acute onset. The person himself or his loved ones can accurately determine the day when the disorder appeared. If mood swings, physical and speech activity have always been present in a person’s character, then they are properties of his personality, and not manifestations of the disease.

Variety of manias. Some manias are harmless and are personal characteristics of a person that make him unique. For example, music mania is an extreme love for music or bibliomania is a strong passion for reading and books. Other varieties, such as delusions of persecution and delusions of grandeur, are serious disorders and may indicate mental illness. In general, there are about 150 types of mania.
Forms of mania. There are 3 forms of manic episodes depending on the severity of mental changes.

Hypomania(mild degree of mania). Changes last more than 4 days:

joyful, elevated mood, occasionally giving way to irritability;
increased talkativeness, superficial judgments;
increased sociability, desire to make contact;
increased distractibility;
increasing efficiency and productivity, experiencing inspiration;
increased appetite and sexual desire.

Mania without psychotic symptoms(simple mania) changes last more than 7 days:

elevated mood, sometimes giving way to irritability and suspicion;
feeling of “jumping thoughts”, a large number of plans;
difficulty concentrating, absent-mindedness;
behavior that goes beyond socially accepted norms, recklessness and looseness that were not previously characteristic;
committing inappropriate actions, craving for adventure and risk. People take on unaffordable projects, spend more than they earn;
high self-esteem, confidence in self-love;
low need for sleep and rest;
heightened perception of: colors, sounds, smells;
motor restlessness, increased physical activity, feeling of energy.

Mania with psychotic symptoms. Requires hospital treatment.

delusions (grandeur, persecution or erotic, etc.);
hallucinations, usually “voices” addressing the patient, less often visions, smells;
frequent mood swings from euphoria to anger or despair;
disturbance of consciousness (oneiric manic state) – disturbance of orientation in time and space, hallucinations intertwined with reality;
superficial thinking - fixation on trifles and inability to highlight the main thing;
speech is accelerated and difficult to understand due to rapid changes of thoughts;
mental and physical stress lead to attacks of anger;
during periods of excitement, a person becomes unavailable for communication.

Mania can progress from mild to severe, but more often the disorder has a cyclical course - after an exacerbation (episode of mania), a phase of attenuation of symptoms begins.
Prevalence of mania. 1% of the world's population has experienced at least one episode of mania. According to some reports, this number reaches 7%. The number of patients among men and women is approximately the same. Most patients are between 25 and 40 years of age.

Persecution mania

Persecution mania or delusions of persecution - a mental disorder in which a person is constantly visited by thoughts that someone is stalking him or watching him with the aim of harming him. The patient is sure that an ill-wisher or a group of people is spying on him, harming him, mocking him, planning to rob him, deprive him of his mind, or kill him.

Persecutory mania can be an independent mental disorder, but more often it is a symptom of other mental illnesses. Delusions of persecution can be a sign not only of mania of the same name, but also of paranoia and schizophrenia. Therefore, this condition requires contacting a psychiatrist.

Causes

Mania is caused by a combination of several factors that disrupt brain function. The main causes of persecution mania:

Brain damage:

Injuries;
Encephalitis, brain infections;

Poisoning:

Alcohol;
Drugs – cocaine, marijuana;
Substances with a psychostimulant effect - amphetamines, opiates, corticosteroids, levodopa, bromocriptine.

Mental illnesses:

Psychoses with paranoid syndrome;

Organic changes in the brain associated with vascular dysfunction:

Senile changes;
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels;

Genetic predisposition. Congenital features of the structure and functioning of the nervous system, which are accompanied by the appearance of foci of excitation. Signs of persecutory delusions in parents are highly likely to be passed on to their children. In addition, people whose parents suffered from any mental illness may suffer from persecution mania.
Unfavorable psychological environment, stress, especially experienced attacks, attempts on life and property.

Some character traits can contribute to the development of persecution mania:

Suspicion;
Anxiety;
Mistrust;
Vigilance.

Psychiatrists view persecutory mania as a result of an imbalance in the brain, when excitation processes predominate in the cortex. Overstimulation of certain brain centers causes repeated thoughts of danger and delusions of persecution. In this case, the inhibition processes are disrupted, which leads to the loss of certain brain functions - a decrease in critical thinking and the ability to make associations.

Symptoms

Persecution delusions usually begin when a person misinterprets a phrase, movement, or action. Most often, the disorder is provoked by auditory deception - a person hears a phrase that contains a threat to him, although in fact the speaker meant something completely different. Real conflicts or dangerous situations are much less likely to give rise to the disease.

Common symptoms of persecutory mania

Persistent obsessions persecution, which do not disappear with changes in the situation. A person does not feel safe anywhere. The patient is convinced that his ill-wishers are following him everywhere.
Misinterpretation of intentions. Facial expressions, intonation, phrases, gestures, actions of others (one or many) are interpreted as manifestations of intentions directed against the patient.
Search for ill-wishers. In the patient’s imagination, the pursuers may include: family members, neighbors, colleagues, strangers, intelligence officers of other states, police, criminal groups, and the government. In the severe stage (delusions of persecution in schizophrenia), fictional characters appear as ill-wishers: aliens, demons, vampires.
A person can clearly indicate the motives of ill-wishers– envy, revenge, jealousy.
Self-isolation in an attempt to hide from pursuers. A man is trying to hide, to find safe place. Doesn't leave the house, refuses to communicate, doesn't answer calls, disguises himself. Avoids communicating with people who, in his opinion, may wish him harm.
Collecting facts and evidence that you are right. A person pays close attention to those around him, looking for enemies in them. Monitors their actions and facial expressions.
Night sleep disturbances. During mania, the need for sleep decreases. A person can sleep 2-3 hours a day and feel full of energy.
Depressed state depression, irritability caused by fear for one’s safety. They can push a person into conflicts with others or into irrational actions - leaving for another city without warning anyone, selling a home.
Motor agitation often accompanies persecutory delusions. During the period of disorder, a person becomes restless, active, sometimes the activity is of a confused nature (rushing around the room).

Which doctor should I contact?

If you suspect persecutory mania, you should consult a psychiatrist.

Diagnostics

1. Conversation with the patient, during which the psychiatrist identifies symptoms of mania and collects anamnesis (complaints, information about the patient). The psychiatrist determines the nature of the delusion of persecution, the person’s attitude to his illness, which is important for establishing the stage of mania.
2. Conversation with loved ones and relatives helps to identify behavior patterns that are invisible to the patient himself. For example, when did the first signs of mania appear, were they preceded by stress and trauma, and what changed in behavior.
3. Psychological testing used to collect additional information about the mental characteristics of the patient. By analyzing the test results, the doctor gets an idea of the patient’s thinking, memory, attention, and emotional characteristics.
Manic episode diagnosed if the described symptoms of mania (fear of persecution, increased mental and physical activity, mood swings) continue for more than 7 days in a row. With repeated episodes of mania, the disease is considered as bipolar affective disorder.
Instrumental studies to study the characteristics of the brain and identify its pathologies that could cause similar symptoms:

Electroencephalography– measurement of the electrical activity of the brain to assess its functioning, the balance of excitation and inhibition processes.
MRI or CT scan of the brain– to identify pathologies of brain vessels and tumors.

Treatment

Psychotherapy for persecution mania

Psychotherapy can be effective for mild forms of the disorder caused by psychological trauma (assault, robbery). In other cases it is required combination treatment from a psychiatrist with the use of medications.

Behavioral psychotherapy

Behavioral (cognitive) psychotherapy is based on the adoption of new correct and healthy behavior patterns in situations in which a person feels stress caused by thoughts of persecution.
The main condition for successful psychotherapy is the recognition of a mental disorder. A person must understand that he is safe, and obsessive thoughts about ill-wishers are the result of illness. They are just a trace left by the excitement that arises in different areas brain
Once a person has learned to recognize persecutory thoughts, they are taught to change their behavior. For example, if the patient thought that he noticed surveillance in a public place, then he should not hide, but continue his route.
The duration of behavioral psychotherapy is 15 sessions or more until significant progress is achieved. Frequency 1-2 times a week. In most cases, in parallel with psychotherapy, the psychiatrist prescribes treatment with antipsychotics.

Family therapy

The specialist explains to the patient and his family members the nature of the development of the disorder and the characteristics of the course of persecution mania. During the classes, they teach how to interact correctly with the patient so as not to provoke an attack of anger and aggression. Psychological information allows you to create a calm, friendly environment around the patient, which promotes recovery.
Classes are held once a week, a course of 5-10 sessions.

Drug treatment for persecution mania

Group of drugs	Representatives	Mechanism of therapeutic action
	Haloperidol, Paliperidone, Risperidone Consta, Fluphenazine	They reduce the level of excitement in the brain and have a calming effect. Reduce the frequency of thoughts of persecution.
Antipsychotics	Chlorprothixene, Thioridazine, Litosan, Lithobid	Cause inhibition processes, calm without exerting hypnotic effect. Eliminate manifestations of mania, normalize mental state.
	Topiramate	Suppresses areas of excitation in the brain by blocking sodium channels in neurons.

For persecutory mania, one of the antipsychotics is prescribed for a period of 14 days; if there is no improvement, then a second antipsychotic is included in the treatment regimen. Other medications are auxiliary. The psychiatrist selects the dose of drugs individually.
In severe cases, in the presence of delusions and hallucinations, when a person poses a danger to himself and others or is unable to care for himself, treatment in a psychiatric hospital may be required.

Megalomania

Megalomania, more correctly, delusions of grandeur are a mental disorder in which a person ascribes to himself popularity, wealth, fame, power, or genius.

Ideas of greatness play a decisive role in a person’s self-awareness and leave an imprint on his behavior and style of communication with other people. All actions and statements are aimed at demonstrating their uniqueness to others. Truly outstanding people can suffer from delusions of grandeur; then they talk about “star fever.” However, in most cases, patients do not have the abilities and achievements in which they believe. This is how megalomania differs from boasting and inflated self-conceit.

Delusions of grandeur are much more common in men and are more pronounced and aggressive. In women, delusions of grandeur are manifested by the desire to “be the best in everything” and simultaneously achieve success in all aspects of life.
Megalomania (delusions of grandeur) can be a separate disease or be one of the symptoms of other psychiatric or neurological diseases.

Causes

The causes of megalomania have not been fully established, but there is a version that the disorder is caused by a combination of several factors:

Heightened self-esteem, caused by the peculiarities of upbringing, when parents abused praise.
Toxic damage brain:

Alcohol;
Drugs;
Medicines.

Infectious brain damage:

Tuberculous meningitis.

Pathologies of blood vessels supplying the brain:

Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels;

Brain injuries leading to disruption of its functioning.
Stressful situations and psychological trauma, especially those suffered in childhood.
Hereditary predisposition. A significant proportion of patients had parents suffering from mental disorders. Features of brain functioning are embedded in genes and are inherited.

Mental illness:

Paranoia;
Manic-depressive syndrome;
Bipolar affective disorder;
Affective psychosis.

Thoughts of greatness and exclusivity are the result of the appearance of foci of excitation in different parts of the cerebral cortex. The more intense the electrical potentials circulate, the more often and more persistently obsessions appear and the more strongly they change a person’s behavior.

Symptoms

The main sign of megalomania is the patient’s confidence in his exclusivity and greatness. He categorically denies all objections, and does not agree that his behavior goes beyond the norm.

Types of megalomania:

Delirium of origin– the patient considers himself a descendant of a noble family or heir famous person.
Delirium of love– the patient, without any reason, becomes confident that he has become the object of adoration of a famous artist, politician or person of high social status.
Delirium of invention– the patient is sure that he has invented or can create an invention that will change the life of mankind, eliminate wars and hunger.
Delirium of wealth- a person lives with the idea that he owns huge sums and treasures, while spending much more than he can afford.
Delirium of reformism– the patient seeks to radically change the existing order in the state and the world.
Religious nonsense– a person considers himself a prophet, a messenger of God, the founder of a new religion. In a number of cases, he manages to convince others that he is right and gather followers.
Manichaean nonsense– the patient is sure that the forces of good and evil are fighting for his soul, and the result of the decisive battle will be a catastrophe on a universal scale.

Symptoms of megalomania:

Thoughts about one's own uniqueness and greatness, which may take one of the forms described above.
Narcissism, constant admiration for one’s qualities and virtues.
A good mood, increased activity, which alternate with periods of depression and passivity. As mania progresses, mood changes occur more frequently.
Increased speech and motor activity, which is even more intensified when discussing the topic of mania.
Need for recognition. In any case, the patient demonstrates his own uniqueness and demands recognition and admiration. If he does not receive due attention, he becomes sullen or aggressive.
Strongly negative attitude towards criticism. Remarks and refutations that relate to the subject of mania are ignored, completely denied, or met with a fit of anger.
Losing faith in one's own uniqueness leads to depression and can lead to a suicide attempt.
Increased appetite, increased libido and insomnia- the result of stimulation of the nervous system.

Diagnostics

1. Conversation with the patient. It is especially effective if the person acknowledges the disorder, which is rare in people with mania. The person describes his vision of the situation, thoughts that began to bother him, complaints.
2. Conversation with loved ones, which can describe the characteristics of the patient’s behavior that go beyond generally accepted norms, when the symptoms of the disorder appeared and what provoked them.
3. Experimental psychological examination or psychological testing, which includes:

Research on memory, thinking and attention;
Research of the emotional sphere;
Research into personality structure.

The studies take the form of tests and allow us to study the dynamics of mental processes, which are activated during mania. This is evidenced by increased distractibility, absent-mindedness, an abundance of superficial associations, and a lack of self-criticism.
A megalomania episode is diagnosed if symptoms of the disorder are present for more than 7 days.
Instrumental research, necessary to identify organic brain lesions:

Electroencephalogram a study of the electrical activity of the brain, which helps determine how pronounced the excitation processes in the cerebral cortex that cause mania are.
CT or MRI to establish cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injuries and organic brain lesions.

Which doctor should I contact?

The treatment of megalomania is carried out by a psychiatrist, since only he has the right to prescribe the antipsychotics necessary to treat this disorder.

Treatment

The mainstay of treatment for megalomania is the use of antipsychotics. Psychotherapy plays a supporting role and, as an independent method, can be used only for mild forms of mania.
If the harm of grandeur is a symptom of another mental illness, then treatment of the underlying illness (psychosis, schizophrenia) eliminates the manifestations of mania.

Psychotherapy for delusions of grandeur

Megalomania is difficult to treat with psychotherapeutic methods, so they are only secondary.

Behavioral approach together with the reception medicines allows you to reduce the manifestations of the disease to a minimum.

At the initial stage, a person is taught to recognize and accept his disorder. Then they move on to identifying pathological thoughts and correcting them. For example, the wording “I am a great mathematician” is replaced with “I like mathematics and am working on ...”
A person is instilled with generally accepted models of behavior that allow him to return to normal life: not to react with aggression to criticism, not to tell strangers about his successes and achievements.
The course of treatment includes 10 or more weekly sessions.

Family therapy

Work with the patient and his family members, which allows them to communicate effectively. Thanks to these activities, relationships with loved ones improve, which has a positive effect on the outcome of treatment.
To achieve results you need at least 5 lessons.

Drug treatment for delusions of grandeur

Group of drugs	Representatives	Mechanism of therapeutic action
Long-acting neuroleptics	Paliperidone, Quetiapine, Olanzapine, Fluphenazine, Risperidone, Haloperidol-Decanoate	They reduce the level of excitation processes in the brain and have a calming effect. They help eliminate delusions of grandeur.
Antipsychotics	Chlorprothixene, Thioridazine	They cause inhibition processes in the nervous system, calm, and enhance the effect of neuroleptics.
Anticonvulsants	Topiramate	Suppresses excitation in brain neurons, increasing the effectiveness of antipsychotics.
Lithium-containing drugs	Litosan, Lithobid	Eliminate delirium and have a calming effect.

For the treatment of megalomania, one of the antipsychotics and additionally one of the drugs from other groups presented in the table are recommended. The psychiatrist determines the dose of drugs and duration of treatment individually.
Treatment in a psychoneurological hospital is necessary if a person does not understand the severity of his condition and refuses to take medications and visit a psychiatrist.

Hypochondriacal mania– manic concern about one’s own health, which disrupts the thinking process and leaves an imprint on a person’s behavior. It is distinguished from hypochondria by the presence of racing thoughts, increased physical activity, reckless behavior and an inflated sense of self-worth.

People suffering from hypochondria constantly worry about their health, listen to bodily sensations and signals coming from different organs, perceive them as pain and other signs of illness. These sensations cause severe anxiety and fear of suffering associated with the disease. Thinking about imaginary illnesses and worries about their own health occupy a central place in the thoughts of hypochondriacs, depriving them of the opportunity to enjoy life, causing depression and depression. With severe hypochondria, a person may try to commit suicide in order to get rid of the torment associated with the disease.

A significant part of hypochondriacs are fond of medicine and self-medication. They read specialized literature, watch medical programs, communicate a lot on this topic, discussing their own and other people’s illnesses. Moreover, the more information they receive, the more symptoms of the disease they find in themselves. A similar situation occurs among medical students in their first years, but unlike hypochondriacs, healthy people calm down over time, forgetting about imaginary diseases. With hypochondria, only a doctor can convince you of the absence of the disease, and then not always or not for long.

Hypochondria is a very common problem. Up to 14% of all patients visiting doctors are hypochondriacs. Most patients are men over 25 years old and women over 40 years old. There are a significant number of hypochondriacs among teenagers and older people who are easily suggestible.

Forecast. In some people, the disorder goes away on its own as it improves. emotional state. Most hypochondriacs feel improvement while working with a psychologist. About 15% experience no relief after treatment. Without the help of a specialist, the disease can progress from mild to severe forms.

Causes

Suspiciousness;
Anxiety;
Suggestibility;
Impressionability.

Mental disorders, which are accompanied by increased attention to one’s health:

Neurosis;
Early form of schizophrenia.

Overwork, stress and chronic traumatic situations, which increase the vulnerability of the psyche, contribute to the development of hypochondria.

Hypochondria is a “vicious circle”. Worries about one’s health fix a person’s attention on bodily sensations and signals from organs. Strong experiences disrupt the regulation of organ function by the nervous and hormonal systems. These changes cause new unusual sensations (accelerated heartbeat, tingling), which are perceived by the person as confirmation of the disease, which further aggravates the mental state.

Symptoms of hypochondria

Patients with hypochondria are distinguished by the following symptoms:

Self-diagnose based on information received from friends or the media. They actively collect information about their disease.
Actively seek help from doctors, talking in detail about your feelings and “attributing” symptoms that do not exist. They lead the doctor to make the “necessary” diagnosis, naming the corresponding symptoms drawn from the literature.
Self-medicate, practice traditional methods, take medications at their own discretion or on the advice of friends.
The content of thoughts and conversations revolves around the topic of health. People pay special attention to medical articles and programs.
Confidence in diagnosis changes from “possibly” to “definitely exists”. Thus, hypochondria has a cyclical course.
“Diagnosis” may vary within one organ peptic ulcer, chronic colitis, intestinal polyps, intestinal cancer. Occasionally, pain changes its location: appendicitis, stomach ulcer.
Complaining for pain in different organs. They can really feel them, or attribute them to confirm the diagnosis. The most common targets are the cardiovascular system and digestive organs.
Constantly check the condition of the body. In search of a tumor, they constantly examine and palpate the area where discomfort occurs, which can aggravate the condition.
Avoid activities that they believe may lead to progression of the disease. For example, physical activity, hypothermia.
They are looking for reassurance that they do not have any illness. They contact doctors of various specialties, undergo tests, and undergo various instrumental examinations (ECG, ultrasound, gastroscopy). They ask their friends if they look sick. Such reassurances reduce anxiety somewhat, but this effect does not last long. This shows similarities with obsessive-compulsive syndrome.
Real diseases receive less attention than fictional ones.

Many persistent stereotypes have developed around megalomania. People who consider themselves Napoleon, Suvorov and other famous historical figures are mistakenly perceived as suffering from delusions of grandeur. However, in reality, this symptom is a manifestation of delusional-hallucinatory disorder. Delusions of grandeur itself belong to the category of complex mental disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of excessive exaggeration of various qualities and characteristics of a person. This symptom accompanies the development of many mental illnesses. It is important to note that most patients deny the fact of an unnatural condition, since they are firmly convinced of the exclusivity of their personality and the presence of an important purpose in society . Let's look at what megalomania is and how it manifests itself in more detail.

Delusions of grandeur are a feature of self-awareness and behavior of an individual, characterized by an extremely pronounced overestimation of one’s importance

Emergence pathological changes in the patient’s personality, lead to the concentration of all thoughts on their exclusivity and importance for the social environment. This feature in the perception of the surrounding world leads to the fact that all actions performed pursue only one goal - universal recognition of the value of the individual. A person in such a state wants as many people as possible to know that he is unique.

Being under the power of pathology, a person cannot accept the simple fact that people do not even suspect his existence. Many patients claim that thoughts are born in their minds that can revolutionize the modern understanding of the structure of the world. Such a person thinks that everyone around him should adhere to his views on life and spread his “teachings”. It is important to note that it is almost impossible to convince a person with delusions of grandeur that in the real world all their endeavors are not of exceptional importance. Such people try to strengthen their power and influence over others as much as possible.

Clinical picture

Of course, delusions of grandeur are not so clearly manifested in all cases. Severe delirium and obsessive attempts to instill one’s worldview in others are characteristic only of complex forms of the disease. Symptoms and signs of megalomania include:

Frequent changes in mood. Psychomotor agitation may alternate with emotional stupor, bouts of euphoria with depressive disorder, and active physical activity may turn into passivity. According to experts, these changes in mood are not controlled by the patient, which often provokes the occurrence of various complications.
Increased physical activity. Delusions of grandeur often manifest as manic episodes of bipolar personality disorder. The symptoms of these conditions are highly interrelated. One manifestation of this connection is attempts to promote one's ideas in combination with increased energy and lack of fatigue.
Excessively high level of self-esteem. When combined with incredible ideas, patients often elevate their social and personal status. This leads to the emergence of demands for respectful attitude towards one’s own personality. According to experts, such people suffer from a thirst for power and demand a servile attitude towards themselves.
Sleep problems. The occurrence of insomnia and other sleep quality disorders can be explained by excessive physical activity. An influx of crazy ideas and thoughts can disrupt the process of falling asleep. In addition, excessive energy implies less need for rest.
Negative attitude towards criticism. Remarks made about the patient's ideas and personality may cause a negative reaction. Such attempts can be either ignored or rudely suppressed at the very beginning of the dialogue.
Problems with perceiving someone else's point of view. Most patients have a negative attitude not only towards criticism and comments, but also towards the presence of their own point of view among people around them. Most of them try to avoid other people's advice, even in cases where the actions taken may cause danger to the patient's health.

Delusion of grandeur is a mental disorder, one of the forms of delusion

Symptoms of megalomania in men manifest themselves in the form of excessive aggression. Constructive criticism can lead to physical rudeness and violence in response. According to experts, the pathology in question in men manifests itself in the form of excessive activity, persistence and an expansive expansion of the circle of influence. In an effort to take a dominant role, such men use any means to neutralize their rivals.

The pathology in question, which occurs in the fair sex, is characterized by a milder manifestation, which is expressed in the complete absence of aggression. A feature of this form of the disease is the desire to achieve certain heights in various areas of life. Quite often, the pathology takes the form of erotomanic delusion, which manifests itself in the form of statements that a famous person was in love with a given woman. It is important to pay attention to the fact that during the course of the disease there are episodes during which depressive disorder is so severe that it leads to thoughts of suicide.

Causes and risk group

Research by scientists has revealed that there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing delusions of grandeur. According to scientists, there is a high likelihood of the disease occurring in people suffering from schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis.

In addition, the risk of developing pathology increases in the presence of drug and alcohol addiction, as well as traumatic brain injuries suffered in childhood. A history of syphilis also puts a person at risk, predisposed to delusions of grandeur. In addition to all of the above, the development of the disease can be provoked by vivid psychotraumatic situations.

As an independent disease, delusions of grandeur have certain features in their course. These features include alternation of the following signs:
In the first stages of development, the symptoms of the disease are mild, due to which the pathology is similar to character accentuation.

In a more acute form, delusional thoughts appear, where ideas about greatness are clearly visible.
At the stage of decompensation, depressive symptoms predominate, accompanied by signs of depletion of the body's mental and physical resources.

A person suffering from this mental disorder is characterized by a painful desire to stand out from others. general environment, be exceptional, important

Certain forms of mental disorder

There are several individual species delusional states that manifest themselves in the form of delusions of grandeur. In psychiatry, these types of delusional states are distinguished into separate forms.

Paraphrenic form of delirium. This type of pathology manifests itself in the form of fantastic ideas, which are combined with delusions of influence and persecution. This form of pathology is characterized by depersonalization and mental automatism, arising from a state of euphoria and manic affect.

According to experts, this type of pathology is one of the complications of paranoid disorder, which is characterized by thoughts about external influence. Among the symptoms of the disease, one should highlight crazy ideas based on the exclusivity of the individual and the tendency to interpret various facts in the direction of one’s own exclusivity. Many people suffering from this disorder often make up various facts in their biography. It is important to understand that such fantasies are wide-ranging and implausible. At certain stages, delusions of persecution can transform into other forms that are based on ideas associated with greatness.

According to patients, their task is to save humanity by exploring space or finding cures for all diseases. Some patients are firmly convinced that they are familiar to every person, and even to vehicles or trees growing on the street. They can offer them assistance in performing various actions and endeavors. In parallel with this, delusions of persecution arise, which is expressed in the form of confidence about surveillance from space, the influence of radiation unknown to science, and other methods of negative influence.

Messianic form of delirium. A less common disease, the carriers of which often became the subject of general discussion. Many people suffering from this type of pathology are firmly convinced that they are one of the forms of reincarnation of pagan deities or a new form of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Such individuals often found various sects and gathered around them admirers of their own teachings.

Manichaean form of delirium. This pathology can be characterized as a struggle between good and evil in the patient’s mind. People can try on these roles and devilry, angels and demons, or representatives of different political movements. The result of this struggle could be the complete destruction of our planet. According to the patient, his task is to counter this “war”. This form of pathology has characteristic resemblance with the acute stage of schizophrenia. Patients with this form of mental disorder pose a high level of danger to both themselves and those around them.

Patients with delusions of grandeur consider themselves special, possessing rare talents, power, wealth, etc.

Complications of megalomania

One of the most common complications of the pathology is the development of depressive disorder in combination with suicidal tendencies. According to psychiatrists, there are several factors that provoke the occurrence of this condition. One of the main factors in the development of depression is a manic episode during bipolar disorder. The severity of mania has a negative impact on the severity of perception and a decrease in energy reserves in the body.

The emergence of depression can be facilitated by the disappearance of the grounds for the further development of delusions of grandeur. After a certain period of time, the patient realizes the fantastic nature of his ideas and actions. Women suffering from delusions of grandeur, which manifests itself in the form of confidence in their own appearance, begin to notice that they are less and less popular among men. Awareness of the fact of one’s mediocrity and low significance leads to thoughts about ending one’s life through suicide.

In addition to all of the above, a negative contribution to the development of depression is made by wasteful use of internal energy resources. At the end of the active period of manic disorder, the patient experiences a sharp loss of strength. This period is characterized by disappointment in one’s own beliefs, which leads to the appearance of signs of “inside out” mania. This condition manifests itself in the form of decreased self-esteem, a feeling of uselessness and little significance to others.

The end of a depressive disorder leads to attempts to commit suicide, which indicates the importance of timely medical intervention in the course of the disease.

Patients are not aware of their mental problems, and therefore do not apply for medical care

Treatment methods

Delusions of grandeur pose a high risk to the patient's health due to the high likelihood of developing depressive disorder and suicidal tendencies. It is important to pay attention to the fact that this pathology is practically impossible to completely cure. An individual approach is selected for each patient, where the treatment strategy is aimed at reducing the severity of symptoms of the pathology.

To select correction methods mental state, it is very important to identify the cause of delusional thoughts. Complex therapy includes the use of drugs from the category of sedatives and antipsychotics, in combination with tranquilizers and methods of mental correction.

Since most patients are unable to recognize the presence of mental problems, in the case of this disease, compulsory treatment is required. If the need arises, the patient is placed in a psychoneurological hospital, where mental disorders are corrected.

Megalomania is a type of mental disorder, a certain type of human consciousness in which he tends to overestimate his own capabilities and abilities. In psychiatry, this condition is considered not as an independent disease, but as a symptom of another pathological condition associated with a mental disorder. Most often, megalomania occurs with manic-depressive psychosis, inferiority complex and paranoid disorders.

It is customary to distinguish several stages in the development of megalomania. At the initial stage of the formation of the disorder, only its primary symptoms appear, which may be subtle to others. However, further progression of the disease leads to brighter clinical manifestations, and over time can lead to severe depression and even the development of dementia.

Causes

Megalomania in clinical practice most often refers to the symptoms of a disorder such as manic-depressive psychosis or paranoid disorder. Quite often, this condition manifests itself in schizophrenia, various neuroses and affective psychoses. Also, such a disorder can manifest itself as a complication of progressive paralysis or traumatic brain injury.

There are several risk factors for the development of megalomania. Firstly, this hereditary predisposition– if one of the parents suffers from a similar disease, the likelihood that it will occur in the child always remains quite high. Secondly, the disorder occurs more often in people suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, as well as in individuals who have had syphilis. Thirdly, it is worth mentioning that even ordinary high self-esteem can develop over time into a more serious mental disorder.

Clinical signs

Delusions of grandeur usually manifest themselves in the fact that a person concentrates literally all his thoughts on his own exclusivity and importance for society. As a result, all the patient’s actions and conversations are aimed at informing others about his own uniqueness and genius. Such a disorder is characterized by the patient’s denial of the irrationality of their behavior, because they are truly confident that only their judgments are the only correct ones, and everyone else is obliged to enthusiastically agree with them.

However, the symptoms of megalomania do not always manifest themselves clearly with an accompanying delusional disorder and the patient’s attempts to impose his point of view on others. Typically, delusions of grandeur manifest themselves as follows:

The outcome of megalomania, such as severe depressive disorder with suicidal tendencies, should be separately considered. There can be several causes of depression. If we are talking about a person with bipolar disorder, then mania gives way to depression - this is the characteristic course of the disease. Also, severe depression can occur due to the patient’s loss of reasons to consider himself better than everyone else. As a rule, the moment of collapse of ideas about their own exclusivity is extremely difficult for patients to bear. Ultimately, a depressed mood can be a consequence of nervous and physical exhaustion of the body. To prevent a depressive episode from ending badly, a mental disorder is necessary in a timely manner treat.

It is worth noting that in men megalomania is detected much more often than in women, while in the stronger sex the disorder is much more aggressive. Sometimes it can come to the point of physical violence in attempts to convey your ideas to others and convince them that you are right. In women, the disease is more mild and often takes the form of erotomania - the belief that a woman is the object of someone’s ardent passion and love. Usually the object to which the mania spreads is some famous, public person.

Specific types of disorder

Megalomania is often included in the symptoms of various delusional disorders, which in clinical practice are classified into separate forms. For example, with paraphrenic delusions, megalomania acquires pronounced fantastic features and is often combined with persecution mania and depersonalization personality disorder. The clinical picture can be supplemented by the patient’s pathological fantasies, confirming his uniqueness. Thus, a person tells fables about his great deeds, which often take completely fantastic forms: the patient may declare that his mission is to save the world or claim that he is being continuously monitored from space, etc.

A less common type of delusional disorder accompanied by delusions of grandeur is the so-called messianic delusion. Its symptoms are such that a person imagines himself to be someone like Jesus or his follower. There are cases when some individuals with a similar disorder became very famous and gathered quite a lot of followers of their own cult.

Patients suffering from Manichean delusional disorder can be dangerous to others. Megalomania in this case manifests itself in the fact that a person imagines himself as some kind of defender of the world from opposing forces: good and evil. Most often, such delusions occur in schizophrenia.

Diagnosis and treatment

The described mental disorder is diagnosed by a psychiatrist after a conversation with the patient, collecting a detailed history of his life, and assessing existing complaints. The doctor also necessarily talks with the patient’s relatives. For diagnostic purposes, various psychological testing, as well as assessment of patient behavior.

Unfortunately, megalomania cannot be treated, but therapy for the underlying disease is necessary, which is selected individually in each specific case. If we talk about how to get rid of megalomania, then depending on its cause, the patient may be prescribed:

taking antipsychotics if a concomitant depressive disorder is diagnosed;
taking sedatives or tranquilizers during severe agitation;
specific psychotherapy.

Since the patient himself does not realize the seriousness of his condition, compulsory therapy may be required. If necessary, the patient is placed in a psychoneurological dispensary and treated in a hospital setting.