Delusions of grandeur symptoms and signs in women. Separate forms of mental disorder

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

Translated from Greek - megalomania or megalomania, translated as a great exaggeration or great madness, in which a person in his self-consciousness and behavior shows an overestimation 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 "megalomania" in everyday life, but not always a person who declares himself Napoleon can suffer from this disease.

Most likely, this condition is due to the presence of an 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 ill with megalomania.

The 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, a person may fall into severe depression, or dementia will begin to develop.

The causes of megalomania are often associated with neurosis, schizophrenia, or traumatic brain injury, progressive paralysis. Experts identify three main reasons due to which a person develops megalomania:

hereditary predisposition

Alcohol or drug addiction

Heightened self-esteem

Clinical signs of "great madness"

The main symptoms by which it can be determined that a person suffers from megalomania is his obsession with 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.

Mania of grandeur is manifested at the physical, mental and emotional level, thus:

high activity

Too high self-esteem

Instability in the emotional sphere

Negative and violent reaction to any kind of criticism

Rejection of a different opinion

bad dream, insomnia

Depression, suicidal thoughts

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 significance 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 megalomania

As noted by the studies, megalomania is most often manifested in men. Their symptoms are more pronounced, and their behavior is always aggressive, and is expressed not only in emotional, but also in physical violence. The manifestation of the disease in women is milder and can be expressed in the form of a conviction of 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

Methods of diagnosis and methods of treatment

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, lifestyle, listening to complaints. There are also conversations with his family.

Megalomania or megalomania is a disease that cannot be cured, but the course of drug therapy is always directed to the causes of its occurrence, which will help to cope with neurosis, reduce the manifestation depression 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, a person must be placed in the psycho-neurological department of the hospital.

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Delusions of grandeur as a quality of personality - a tendency expressed in an extreme degree of overestimation of their importance, fame, popularity, wealth, power, genius, political influence, up to 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 ward of Napoleons, you should go home. - Doctor, you don't understand - I'm a CAKE!

A patient at a psychiatrist's appointment: - Doctor, I suffer from delusions of grandeur! “What do you know about megalomania, you pitiful little man!”

If we discard clinical cases, megalomania turns into a valid recipe to prove to yourself and everyone your undeniable greatness in something: in power, in strength, wealth, a special social position, in rare abilities, famous ancestors. It is based on faith, but faith does not correspond to reality, so a person with manifested megalomania inadequately perceives reality. Megalomania is not considered, according to the Handbook of Diagnostics and Statistics of Mental Disorders, a special mental disorder. But often it can be a sign of a mental disorder (a kind 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 is easy for 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 is rarely easily cured.) Another said, "What a pity I'm not ugly, and how hard it is to be constantly molested by men." (?!) One of my acquaintances boasted: "I prefer Japanese technology." By Japanese technology, as it turned out later, he meant a VCR, a TV set and a 1985 Honda, i.e. no more than "lazy" possesses. The next one claimed that at the age of six months he was already talking, 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, but her height was like that of Marilyn Monroe (megalomania 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 illegally carry something from China ... In general, they are huckstering. He completely ignored my question. And another friend of mine, having mastered a computer in order to receive $ 300 for hire, exclaimed in a fit of delight: “Maybe you don’t have to be so smart, then it will be easier to live ?!” When I reassured her that in this part she was very slandering herself, she was offended.

Megalomania distorts reality. It's done different ways, the most common of which is exaggeration. Maxim Gorky wrote: "A person who considers his toothache the misfortune of the whole world is clearly inclined to exaggerate events."

Megalomania is the daughter of pride. Three monks are praying. One says: “Lord, who am I in front of You? A weightless speck of dust that cannot be seen with the eye, which the wind drives around 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, which was lost in the abyss of space. I am an atom. The third one prays: “God, how tiny I am before You! I am a little worm. The first two monks looked at each other and said to each other: “Look at his megalomania. 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 sure that her thoughts and feelings have absolutely no value at all. Just like the dog from the cartoon Prostokvashino believed that a gun costs money and his life is free, women also believe that sharing their thoughts with someone, and even more so keeping a diary, also makes no sense and smacks of megalomania. The woman thinks: - If I write down my thoughts and feelings, people around me will say that I am a schizophrenic. In fact, it is not about greatness, but about the ability of a woman to realize that her thoughts and feelings are important. If now they are not in demand, it is not a fact that after a while they will not be of interest to someone.

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

- Doctor, I am very, very grateful to you that you were still able to cure me of megalomania. “From now on, I am the most unsurpassed, fantastic, phenomenally modest person.

I don't have delusions of grandeur. Great people do not suffer from this. An, no. How they suffer.

There was a king named Alexander the Great. He was a courageous warrior and thought that he must raise armies to conquer the world and acquire a great name in world history - "Conqueror of the whole world." So, he began his campaign and won the victory. But after ten years of continuous fighting, he had conquered such a vast 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 the unconquered lands, and continue the conquest in the second campaign. On the way home he fell ill and there was no way to help him. He faced death face to face. The king asked the wise men who stood around him in a dejected state: - What will become of this huge kingdom, which I acquired with such great effort, and what will become of my treasures: jewels, pearls, diamonds and gold, and with all the slaves captured by me ? Then the wise men answered: - This is natural. What happens to you happens to everyone. Even kings more powerful than you could not take anything from this world with them. This is legal, 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 wise men 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 for which he worked 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 for a single moment he could not enjoy its fruits. If he got to his kingdom, he could enjoy his treasures for a year or two. It would give him some satisfaction. But now he was dying on his way home. It would be better if he lived in this small kingdom, enjoying life without worrying about his "greatness". If he had done so, he would not have had to suffer.

A holy man sat next to the upset king. He said to him: - My dear king, if your life ended now, it would be very good. But what's done is done. And a new big terrible page of life opens up for you. You should not worry about the past, but should start worrying about the coming tragedy. Then the king was even more amazed and asked: - What is it? The saint replied: - Hundreds and thousands of people were killed in these wars, and all this happened according to your orders. Hundreds and thousands of women were left widows. Countless children became orphans or homeless, and you created tragedy after tragedy during those ten years. Now all responsibility lies with you, and you will pay for everything and for 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 all your deeds will be determined in accordance with the law. This is truly the worst thing that awaits you.

Petr Kovalev

Mania (manic states)- a type of mental disorder, manifested by mental and motor anxiety of varying 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.

Characteristic features of mania:

Mood boost. Often this causeless unrestrained fun, euphoria. Periodically it is replaced by anger, aggression, anger.
Acceleration of the thought process. Thoughts come often, the gaps between them shorten. A person seems to jump from one thought to another. Accelerated thinking entails speech excitation (shouts, incoherent speech). People with mania tend to be verbose, willing to talk about the subject of attraction, but due to the race of 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, with which mania is associated. Psychomotor activity can range from some fussiness to extreme agitation and disruptive behavior. Over time, a person may develop aimless throwing, fussiness, fast, poorly coordinated movements.
Lack of critical attitude to their condition. A person considers his behavior to be completely normal even if there are significant deviations.

As a rule, mania has an acute onset. The person himself or his relatives 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.

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

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

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

Mania with psychotic symptoms. Requires hospital treatment.

delusions (greatness, persecution or erotic, etc.);
hallucinations, usually "voices" referring to the patient, less often visions, smells;
frequent mood swings from euphoria to anger or despair;
impaired consciousness (oneiric manic state) - impaired 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 incomprehensible due to the rapid change of thoughts;
mental and physical stress lead to bouts of anger;
during a period 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 (an episode of mania), a phase of attenuation of symptoms begins.
The 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 or following him in order to harm. The patient is sure that an ill-wisher or a group of people is spying on him, harming him, mocking him, planning to steal, deprive him of his mind, and kill him.

Persecution 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 the mania of the same name, but also of paranoia and schizophrenia. Therefore, such a condition requires an appeal to a psychiatrist.

Causes

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

Brain damage:

Injuries;
encephalitis infection of the brain;

Poisoning:

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

Mental illnesses:

Psychosis with paranoid syndrome;

Organic changes in the brain associated with disruption of blood vessels:

senile changes;
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels;

genetic propensity. Congenital features of the structure and functioning of the nervous system, which are accompanied by the appearance of foci of excitation. Signs of delusions of persecution in parents are highly likely to be passed on to children. In addition, people whose parents suffered any mental illness can 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;
incredulity;
Vigilance.

Psychiatrists view persecution mania as the result of an imbalance in the brain when excitation processes predominate in the cortex. Overexcitation of certain centers of the brain causes repetitive thoughts of danger and delusions of persecution. At the same time, the processes of inhibition are disturbed, which leads to the loss of some brain functions - a decrease in the criticality of thinking and the ability to associate.

Symptoms

Persecution mania usually begins with the person misinterpreting a phrase, movement, or deed. Most often, the disorder provokes auditory deception - a person hears a phrase in which he is threatened, although in fact the speaker had something completely different in mind. Real conflicts or dangerous situations are much less likely to start the disease.

Common Symptoms of Persecution Mania

Persistent obsessions persecution that do not disappear with a change in environment. A person does not feel safe anywhere. The patient is convinced that his ill-wishers are following him everywhere.
Misinterpretation of intent. 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 imagination of the patient, the persecutors can be: family members, neighbors, colleagues, strangers, intelligence officers of other states, police, criminal groups, 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 escape from pursuers. Man tries to hide, find safe place. He does not leave the house, refuses to communicate, does not answer calls, disguises himself. Avoids communication with people who, in his opinion, may wish him harm.
Collection of facts and evidence of their innocence. A person pays close attention to others, looking for enemies in them. Follows their actions and facial expressions.
Night sleep disturbances. Mania reduces the need for sleep. 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 irrational actions - to leave for another city without warning anyone, to sell housing.
Motor excitement often accompanies delusions of persecution. During the period of disorder, a person becomes restless, active, sometimes activity is stupid in nature (rushing around the room).

Which doctor to contact

If you suspect persecution mania, you should contact a psychiatrist.

Diagnostics

1. Conversation with the patient, during which the psychiatrist identifies the symptoms of mania, collects an anamnesis (complaints, information about the patient). The psychiatrist determines the nature of the delusion of persecution, the attitude of a person to his illness, which is important for establishing the stage of mania.
2. Conversation with loved ones and relatives helps to identify features of behavior that are imperceptible to the patient himself. For example, when the first signs of mania appeared, were they preceded by stress and trauma, what changed in behavior.
3. Psychological testing used to collect additional information about the mentality of the patient. Analyzing the test results, the doctor gets an idea about the thinking, memory, attention, and emotional characteristics of the patient.
manic episode Diagnose if the described symptoms of mania (fear of persecution, increased mental and motor 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 Research to study the features of the brain and identify its pathologies that could cause similar symptoms:

Electroencephalography- measurement of the electrical activity of the brain to assess its work, the balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition.
MRI or CT of the brain- to detect pathologies of cerebral vessels and tumors.

Treatment

Psychotherapy for persecution mania

Psychotherapy can be effective in a mild form of disorder caused by psychological trauma (assault, robbery). In other cases, you need combined treatment by a psychiatrist with medication.

Behavioral Psychotherapy

The basis of behavioral (cognitive) psychotherapy is the assimilation 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 an illness. They are just a trace left by the excitement that arises in different areas brain.
Once a person has learned to recognize thoughts of persecution, they are taught to change their behavior. For example, if it seemed to the patient that he noticed surveillance in a public place, then he should not hide, but continue his route.
The duration of behavioral therapy is 15 or more sessions until significant progress is made. 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 members of his family the nature of the development of the disorder, and the features of the course of persecution mania. In the classroom, they teach how to interact with the patient correctly so as not to provoke an attack of anger and aggression. Psychological informing allows you to create a calm, friendly environment around the patient, which contributes to recovery.
Classes are held once a week, a course of 5-10 sessions.

Drug treatment of persecution mania

Drug group	Representatives	Mechanism of therapeutic action
	Haloperidol, Paliperidone, Risperidone Consta, Fluphenazine	Reduce the level of excitation in the brain, have a calming effect. Reduce the frequency of thoughts of persecution.
Antipsychotics	Chlorprothixene, Thioridazine, Litosan, Litobid	Cause inhibition processes, soothe, without exerting hypnotic effect. Eliminate the manifestations of mania, normalize the mental state.
	Topiramate	Suppresses foci of excitation in the brain by blocking sodium channels in neurons.

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

Megalomania

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

Ideas of greatness play a decisive role in a person's self-awareness, they 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 they believe in. This megalomania differs from boasting and inflated conceit.

Megalomania is much more common in men and comes to light brighter and more aggressive. In women, megalomania is manifested by the desire to "be the best in everything", at the same time achieve success in all aspects of life.
Delusions of grandeur (delusions of grandeur) - may be a separate disease or be among 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.

brain infection:

Tuberculous meningitis.

Pathologies of blood vessels that feed the brain:

Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels;

brain injury leading to malfunction.
stressful situations and psychological trauma, especially transferred in childhood.
hereditary predisposition. In a significant proportion of patients, parents suffered from mental disorders. Features of the functioning of the brain are embedded in the 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 intensely the electrical potentials circulate, the more often and persistently obsessions appear and the more they change a person's behavior.

Symptoms

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

Types of megalomania:

Delusion of origin- the patient considers himself a descendant of a noble family or heir famous person.
Delusion 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.
Nonsense of invention- the patient is sure that he invented or can create an invention that will change the life of mankind, save from wars, hunger.
Delusions of wealth- a person lives with the idea that he owns huge sums and treasures, while spending much more than he can afford.
Delusions 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 some cases, he manages to convince others that he is right and gather followers.
Manichaean delirium- 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 of a universal scale.

Symptoms of megalomania:

Thoughts about your own uniqueness and greatness, which may take one of the forms described above.
Narcissism, constant admiration for their qualities and virtues.
A good mood, increased activity, which alternate with periods of depression and passivity. As mania progresses, mood swings occur more frequently.
Increased speech and motor activity, which is further enhanced when discussing the topic of mania.
Need for recognition. The patient in any case demonstrates his own uniqueness and requires recognition and admiration. If he does not receive due attention, then he becomes sullen or aggressive.
Strongly negative attitude to criticism. Remarks and rebuttals that relate to the subject of mania are ignored, completely denied or met with a fit of anger.
Loss of faith in one's own uniqueness leads to depression and may lead to suicide attempts.
Increased appetite, increased libido and insomnia- the result of excitation of the nervous system.

Diagnostics

1. Conversation with the patient. It is especially effective if the person recognizes the presence of the disorder, which is rare in people with mania. A 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 the generally accepted norms, when the symptoms of the disorder appeared and what provoked them.
3. Experimental psychological examination or psychological testing, which includes:

Studies of memory, thinking and attention;
Studies of the emotional sphere;
Studies of personality structure.

Studies are carried out in the form of tests and allow you to explore 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.
An episode of megalomania is diagnosed if the symptoms of the disorder are present for more than 7 days.
instrumental research, necessary for the detection of organic brain lesions:

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

Which doctor to contact

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

Treatment

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

Psychotherapy of megalomania

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 proceed to the selection of pathological thoughts and their correction. For example, the wording "I'm a great mathematician" is replaced with "I like math and I'm working on..."
A person is instilled with generally accepted behavior patterns 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

Working with the patient and his family members, which allows them to communicate effectively. Thanks to these activities, relationships with loved ones improve, which positively affects the result of treatment.
To achieve the result, you need from 5 sessions.

Medical treatment of megalomania

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

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

hypochondriacal mania- manic concern about one's own health, which disrupts the process of thinking and leaves an imprint on human behavior. It differs from hypochondria in the presence of "jumping thoughts", increased physical activity, reckless behavior and an overestimated sense of self-importance.

People suffering from hypochondria are constantly worried 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 fictional 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, just 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. At the same time, the more information they receive, the more symptoms of the disease they find in themselves. A similar situation occurs with medical students in their first years, but unlike hypochondriacs, healthy people calm down over time, forgetting about fictitious diseases. With hypochondria, only a doctor can convince you of the absence of a disease, and even 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 and women over 40. A significant number of hypochondriacs among adolescents and the elderly, who are easily suggestible.

Forecast. For some people, the disorder resolves on its own with improvement. emotional state. Most hypochondriacs feel better in the course of 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 their health:

Neurosis;
Early form of schizophrenia.

Overwork, stress and chronic traumatic situations that 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 violate the regulation of the work of organs from the side of the nervous and hormonal systems. These changes cause new unusual sensations (accelerated heartbeat, tingling), which are perceived by a 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 acquaintances or the media. Actively collect information about their disease.
Actively seek medical help, talking in detail about his feelings and "attributing" symptoms that are not there. The doctor is led to the formulation of a “necessary” diagnosis, naming the corresponding symptoms gleaned from the literature.
Self-medicate, practice folk methods, take medicines 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 broadcasts.
Confidence in the presence of a diagnosis changes from "maybe" to "definitely". Thus, hypochondria has a cyclic course.
"Diagnosis" can vary within the same organ peptic ulcer, chronic colitis, intestinal polyps, intestinal cancer. Occasionally, pain sensations change their localization: appendicitis, stomach ulcer.
Express complaints for pain in different bodies. They can really feel them, or attribute them to confirm the diagnosis. The most frequent targets are the cardiovascular system, the digestive organs.
Constantly check the condition of the body. In search of a tumor, they constantly examine and feel the area in which discomfort occurs, which can aggravate the condition.
Avoid activities that they think may lead to disease progression. For example, physical activity, hypothermia.
Seeking reassurance that they don't have any disease. They turn to doctors of various specialties, take tests, undergo various instrumental examinations (ECG, ultrasound, gastroscopy). Ask friends if they look sick. Such reassurances reduce anxiety somewhat, but this effect does not last long. This is similar to obsessive-compulsive syndrome.
They pay less attention to real diseases than fictional ones.

There are many stable stereotypes around megalomania. People who consider themselves Napoleon, Suvorov and other famous historical figures are mistakenly perceived as suffering from the delusions of grandeur. However, in reality, this symptom is a manifestation of a delusional hallucinatory disorder. The delusions of grandeur itself belong to the category of complex mental disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of an excessive exaggeration of various qualities and personality traits. This symptom accompanies the development of many mental illnesses. It is important to note that the majority of patients deny the fact of an unnatural state, 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 - a feature of self-consciousness and behavior of a person, characterized by an extremely pronounced reassessment of its significance

Emergence pathological changes in the personality of the patient, lead to the concentration of all thoughts on their exclusivity and importance for the social environment. This peculiarity in the perception of the surrounding world leads to the fact that all actions performed have only one goal - the universal recognition of the value of the individual. A person in this 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 are not even aware of his existence. Many patients claim that thoughts are born in their minds that can turn the modern idea of \u200b\u200bthe structure of the world. Such a person thinks that each of his environment should adhere to his views on life and spread his “teachings”. It is important to pay attention to the fact that it is almost impossible to convince a person with megalomania that in the real world all their undertakings are not of exceptional importance. Such people try to strengthen their power and influence on others as much as possible.

Clinical picture

Of course, not in all cases, delusions of grandeur have such a vivid manifestation. Expressed delirium and obsessive attempts to instill one's worldview in others are characteristic only for complex forms of the course 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 inactivity. According to experts, these changes in mood are not controlled by the patient, which often provokes the occurrence of various complications.
Increased physical activity. Megalomania often manifests as manic episodes of bipolar personality disorder. The symptoms of these conditions are highly interrelated. One of the manifestations of this connection is the attempts to promote their ideas, combined with increased energy and lack of fatigue.
Excessively high level of self-esteem. Combined with incredible ideas, sufferers often elevate their social and personal status. This leads to the emergence of requirements of a respectful attitude towards one's own personality. According to experts, such people suffer from a thirst for power and require a servile attitude towards themselves.
Sleep problems. The occurrence of insomnia and other sleep disorders can be explained by excessive physical activity. The influx of crazy ideas and thoughts can lead to disruption of the process of falling asleep. In addition, excessive energy implies less need for rest.
Negative attitude towards criticism. Remarks made about the ideas and personality of the patient can cause a negative reaction. Such attempts can be either ignored or rudely suppressed at the very beginning of the dialogue.
Problems with the perception of someone else's point of view. Most patients have a negative attitude not only to criticism and comments, but also to the presence of their own point of view among the people around them. Most of them try to avoid other people's advice, even in the case when the actions taken may cause danger to the health of the patient.

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

Symptoms of megalomania in men are manifested in the form of excessive aggression. Constructive criticism can elicit physical rudeness and violence in response. According to experts, the pathology in question in men manifests itself in the form of excessive activity, perseverance 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 under consideration, 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, pathology takes the form of erotomanic delusions, which manifests itself in the form of statements that a famous person was in love with this woman. It is important to pay attention to the fact that during the course of the disease there are episodes during which the depressive disorder is so severe that it leads to thoughts of suicide.

Causes and risk group

Research scientists have revealed that there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing delusions of grandeur. According to scientists, people suffering from schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis have a high probability of developing the disease.

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. The presence of a history of syphilis also puts a person at risk, predisposed to the occurrence of delusions of grandeur. In addition to all of the above, the development of the disease can be triggered by vivid psychotraumatic situations.

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

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

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

Separate forms of mental disorder

There are several certain types delusional states that manifest themselves in the form of megalomania. In psychiatry, these types of delusional states are distinguished into separate forms.

Paraphrenic form of delusion. This type of pathology manifests itself in the form of fantastic ideas that are combined with delusions of influence and persecution. This form of pathology is characterized by depersonalization and mental automatism, arising on the basis of 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 single out 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 have a high scope and are unlikely. At certain stages, delusions of persecution can transform into other forms that are based on ideas associated with greatness.

According to the patients, their task is to save humanity through space exploration or the search for cures for all diseases. Some patients are in the firm belief that they are familiar to every person, and even transport or trees growing on the street. They may offer them assistance in various activities and undertakings. 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 ways of negative impact.

Messianic form of delusion. 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 incarnation of Jesus Christ. Such individuals often establish various sects and gather around themselves admirers of their own teachings.

Manichaean form of delusion. This pathology can be characterized as a struggle between good and evil in the mind of the patient. These roles can be taken on by people and devilry, angels and demons, or representatives of different political directions. The result of this struggle may be the complete destruction of our planet. According to the patient, his task is to counteract this "war". This form of pathology is characteristic resemblance with acute schizophrenia. Patients with this form of mental disorder pose a high level of danger both to themselves and to 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 course of pathology is the development of a depressive disorder, combined with a tendency to suicide. According to psychiatrists, there are several factors that provoke the occurrence of this condition. One of the main triggers for 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 may be facilitated by the disappearance of grounds for the further development of delusions of grandeur. After a certain period of time, the patient realizes all the fantasticness of his ideas and actions. Women suffering from megalomania, which manifests itself in the form of confidence in their own external data, begin to notice that they are becoming 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 with the help of suicide.

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

The final 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 danger to the health of the patient due to the high likelihood of developing a depressive disorder and the occurrence of a tendency to suicide. It is important to pay attention to the fact that this pathology is practically not amenable to complete cure. An individual approach is selected for each patient, where the treatment strategy is aimed at reducing the severity of the symptoms of the pathology.

For the selection of correction methods mental state It is very important to identify the cause of delusional thoughts. The composition of complex therapy includes the use of drugs from the category of sedatives and neuroleptics, 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 necessary, the patient is placed in a psycho-neurological hospital, where mental disorders are corrected.

Megalomania is a kind 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, an 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 hardly noticeable to others. However, further progression of the disease leads to more pronounced 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. First, 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 individuals who have had syphilis. Thirdly, it is worth mentioning that even the usual inflated self-esteem can eventually develop into a more serious mental disorder.

Clinical signs

Megalomania is usually manifested by the fact that a person concentrates literally all his thoughts on his own exclusivity and importance for society. As a result, all the actions and conversations of the patient are aimed at informing others about their own uniqueness and genius. Such a disorder is characterized by the patient's denial of the irrationality of their behavior, because they are really sure that only their judgments are the only true ones, and everyone else is obliged to enthusiastically agree with them.

However, the symptoms of megalomania do not always manifest themselves clearly with concomitant delusional disorder and the patient's attempts to impose his point of view on others. As a rule, megalomania manifests itself as follows:

It is necessary to separately consider such an outcome of megalomania as a severe depressive disorder with suicidal tendencies. There can be several reasons for depression. If we are talking about a person with bipolar disorder, then mania is replaced by depression - this is the characteristic course of the disease. Also, severe depression can occur due to the loss of reasons for patients to consider themselves the best. As a rule, the moment of the collapse of ideas about one's own exclusivity is extremely difficult for patients to endure. In the end, a depressed mood can be the result of nervous and physical exhaustion of the body. In order for a depressive episode not to end badly, a mental disorder must be timely treat.

It is worth noting that in men megalomania is found much more often than in women, while in the representatives of the stronger sex the disorder proceeds much more aggressively. Sometimes it can come to physical violence in an attempt to convey your ideas to others and convince them that you are right. In women, the disease proceeds more mildly and often takes the form of erotomania - the belief that a woman is the object of someone's ardent passion and love. Usually, some well-known, public person acts as an object to which the mania extends.

Separate 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 can 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 megalomania is the so-called messianic delusion. Its symptoms are such that the person imagines himself to be something like Jesus or his follower. There are cases when some individuals with this disorder became very famous and gathered quite a lot of followers of their own cult.

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

Diagnosis and treatment

The described mental disorder is diagnosed by a psychiatrist after a conversation with the patient, collecting a detailed anamnesis of his life, assessing existing complaints. Also, the doctor necessarily talks with the relatives of the patient. For diagnostic purposes, various psychological testing and evaluation of the patient's behavior.

Unfortunately, megalomania is not cured, however, therapy of the underlying disease is necessary, which is selected individually in each 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 with severe arousal;
specific psychotherapy.

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