What is megalomania? Delusions of grandeur: symptoms, stages and signs, how to treat? How to deal with a person who has delusions of grandeur?

What is megalomania?

A mental disorder known as megalomania has become the cause of one of the forms of deviant (deviating from generally accepted norms) behavior. Megalomania is another name for the pathology, and many consider it more accurate. After all, some manifestations of personality (the desire for excellence, skill, professionalism) may not contradict the moral and moral values ​​accepted in a particular culture. But at the same time, there is a danger that such intentions will be regarded as signs of a person’s delusions of grandeur.

How to deal with a person who has delusions of grandeur?

How to behave correctly with a person who has delusions of grandeur? Psychotherapists give the following recommendations:

• Show your interest. The patient must see that you are listening to him.
• Show that you value his opinion . It is important for such people to feel needed.
• Thank you for your opinion. Tell him you appreciate his point of view.
• Give the megalomaniac more time. Sincerely rejoice at his victories.
• Try to calmly react to his behavior and statements in difficult situations. Treat the patient's problem with understanding.

Types of disease

Depending on the proportions of redistribution of one’s own power (participation), types of megalomania are distinguished:

Symptoms and signs of megalomania

At the initial stage of megalomania, the following symptoms and signs can be observed:

• Inappropriate (aggressive or painful, up to functional disorders, disorders and vegetative-vascular reactions) perception of criticism;
• Increased sensitivity and frequent touchiness;
• Reluctance to listen to outside opinions, to follow other people's instructions and directions;
• Attributing to oneself fictitious (desired, but fictitious, illusory) or other people's merits, violation of copyright;
• Inflated (inappropriate to personal abilities and efforts) self-esteem;
• Egocentrism (increased attention to one’s own person and the desire for universal worship and recognition);
• Unstable emotional state for a short period of time; sudden mood swings - from wild joy to black depression and despondency.

In men

Representatives of the stronger sex are more susceptible to attacks of megalomania. More than 95% of cases of this pathology are recorded in men. Self-confidence, already in the initial stages of a pathological disorder, is accompanied by threats. When a man tries to stand out from the crowd and attract attention, his behavior may be accompanied by verbal and physical aggression.

Among women

Psychiatrists believe that women often suffer from delusions of grandeur, which develop against the backdrop of an overestimation of their external data. Erotic fantasies appear, where the morbid imagination makes her an object of desire for famous and public figures (politicians, actors, writers).

Often mothers (mostly housewives) who have not realized their talents and abilities exaggerate the merits of their children. Such women literally forcefully “pull” plans and ambitions that are unusual for them onto their offspring, forcing them to live in an imaginary world. At the first encounter with a real obstacle, the children of such mothers, who believe in their exclusivity, receive severe mental trauma.

Depression and consequences of megalomania

Often this mania leads to a depressed, depressed mental state with periodic attempts at suicide. There are several reasons for this phenomenon.

If we are talking about a person with bipolar disorder, then in this case the problem is replaced by deep depression. This happens when a person does not see the results of his work: the advice he gave no longer works, and others do not consider him the center of the universe. People with mania perceive such a period very difficult, a decline in strength and energy occurs, the individual loses the desire to do anything, and sometimes thoughts of suicide arise.

The onset of depression

Excessive use of energy during the first two phases of mania leads to a decline in vital resources, the person becomes exhausted, sad and no longer wants to communicate with people. He withdraws into himself and tries to hide from the outside world. Thoughts about one’s insignificance and uselessness drive a person into deep depression.

Stages of the disease

Psychiatrists distinguish three stages characteristic of megalomania:

1. initial; the emergence of a desire to stand out from the company, the crowd of surrounding people with the help of your real or imaginary advantages;
2. disease progression, appearance of clinical symptoms;
3. regression; this stage is characterized by an increase in internal emptiness, which may be accompanied by general personality degradation (suicidal thoughts and tendencies); reassessment of life values ​​at this stage of the disease does not lead to the emergence of new ideals, beliefs, values ​​and awareness, but to the development of dementia.

Features of delusions of grandeur give color and create a scenario for the course of the disease:

• paraphrenic delirium: the predominance of fantasy images and ideas with a free interpretation of actually occurring events and attempts to significantly exaggerate one’s place and role in them; combined with dispersonalization, delusions of influence and persecution;
• messianic delirium: assertion of one’s exclusive task (mission), usually associated with the confrontation of two global forces (systems); the desire for universal worship and recognition of the value of one’s personality.

Important! It is necessary to distinguish manic delirium from overvalued ideas. A person also attaches great importance to the latter and constantly thinks about them. However, outside the appropriate context (situation, thematic discussion, professional discussion), these ideas, as a rule, are not expressed. There is no element of forcibly imposing one’s own ideas on others.

Delusions of grandeur (delusions of grandeur, megalomania, megalomaniac delusion, expansive delusion)

The key manifestation of the disorder is the patient’s focus on his own personality, the belief in his own superiority compared to other people. Patients perceive themselves as brilliant, omnipotent, irresistible, endowed with power, fame, money. They often take on the role of king, emperor, millionaire, popular lover, savior. Behavior is inappropriate, judgments cannot be corrected. Patients behave in accordance with the role and require special treatment from others: submission, admiration, and the creation of special conditions. In addition to the main symptom, emotional instability and frequent mood swings are observed. The state of excitement and euphoria is replaced by anxiety and depression.

In the early stages and during periods of remission, inflated self-esteem, an exclusive focus on one’s own opinion, and the inability to accept criticism and advice from others are noted. Patients are overly active, anxious, and distracted. Restless sleep, with frequent awakenings. Men become more aggressive towards close people. In the later stages, delusional concepts become pretentious, unusual, and unrealistic. Patients imagine themselves as rulers of the Galaxy, saviors of all the disadvantaged, masters of humanity. The behavior is carefree and euphoric. Delusions of grandeur can be complex, most often combined with ideas of persecution. In such cases, high spirits give way to anxiety and fear. Hyperactivity persists.

Symptoms of delusions of grandeur vary according to the content of the ideas. Delusion of a special origin - the patient’s conviction that he belongs to a famous family, a noble family. Patients call themselves illegitimate children of emperors, kings, famous philosophers, researchers, and writers. With delusions of wealth, ideas are expressed about the presence of material wealth - money, gold, precious stones, real estate, expensive cars. The plot can be plausible or ridiculous, pretentious. Some talk about several hundred thousand rubles in a bank account, others talk about gold castles in a neighboring country.

Delirium of invention is the patient’s conviction that he has made outstanding scientific discoveries, created technologies, designed mechanisms, and automatic systems. For example, a formula for eternal youth was developed, a cure for all diseases was developed, a time machine and a teleporter were assembled. The focus always shifts from the invention to its author. The delusion of reformism is the idea of ​​the patient’s ability to change the existing political system, economic and social system.

Love or erotic delusions are characteristic of women. It is manifested by the patient’s conviction that a man occupying a high social position (statesman, outstanding athlete, artist) is in love with her. With antagonistic delusions, the patient considers himself the center of the struggle of existential opposites: light and darkness, good and evil, death and life. Altruistic delirium, called delusion of messianism - ideas of salvation of humanity, in which the patient is a prophet, healer, miracle worker.

Diagnostics

People suffering from delusions of grandeur do not consider it a disease. And they almost always tend to assign themselves the status of a mentally healthy person. Their self-awareness is greatly weakened by the illusory ideas and beliefs that dominate it. Such patients are brought to see a psychiatrist by their relatives who are concerned about their incoherent delirium, increased irritability, excessive aggressiveness and constant agitation.

The specialist talks with relatives and the patient himself. Currently, tests have been developed that allow one to accurately determine the affected mental functions (test for logic of thinking, test for bipolar disorder). After analyzing the completed questionnaires, the doctor can quite objectively determine the degree of the disease, its type and form.

What to do for a person with delusions of grandeur: advice

• It should be noted that in rare cases, megalomania is not a symptom of any mental illness, but is a peculiar feature of a person’s character. For such people, deviation from norms of behavior or thinking seems easier and does not pose a danger.
• However, they are also strongly recommended to consult a psychotherapist in order to avoid exacerbations and negative consequences.

It is important to consult a psychotherapist in time.
The specialist, as a rule, advises such patients the following:

• Write down your many ideas and focus on only a couple of them. Having drawn up a clear action plan, strive to implement them.
• Treat people with respect and do not consider yourself better than others.
• Do auto-training to learn how to calm down in stressful situations on your own, without anyone’s help.
• Monitor your sleep schedule and give yourself enough time to rest.

Treatment

Megalomania is a form of delusional-hallucinatory syndrome that psychiatrists have been working with for a long time. Therefore, effective medications are available to treat megalomanic symptoms:

• phenothiazines;
• antipsychotic drugs;
• lithium-containing drugs.

In addition to drug therapy, group and individual psychotherapeutic sessions are conducted with the patient. The patient undergoes a course of complete social adaptation for subsequent interaction with people.

Pathology can occur against the background of schizophrenia, progressive paralysis, alcohol or chemical intoxication of the body, organic or functional lesions of the brain. Preliminary courses of medication (antibiotics, tranquilizers, sedatives) or physiotherapy are carried out.

Prevention

A complete cure for megalomania is difficult to achieve. Patients are under medical supervision for life and periodically undergo repeated psychotherapeutic sessions. In the case of a hereditary predisposition to such disorders of consciousness, it is necessary to undergo regular examination by a psychologist or psychiatrist, pay special attention to maintaining a daily routine and alternating periods of activity and rest. limiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Stress is a factor that provokes the appearance of megalomania. But it is impossible to completely avoid stress. Self-training techniques will help you switch your attention in a timely manner, avoiding the occurrence of traumatic situations, and transform anger and aggression.

Mental health is a key element of well-being. A worldview created by painful and inadequate ideas leads to the destruction of personality.

Already at the regression stage, chronic depression appears. It often results in structural changes in the brain and dementia. Detection of pathology at the initial stage guarantees a favorable prognosis and stable remission.