Delusions of grandeur

Delusions of grandeur
Other namesExpansive delusions, delusions of grandeur
A cartoon illustrating the phenomenon. People with grandiose delusions wrongly hold themselves at an extraordinarily high status in their mind.
SpecialtyPsychiatry

Delusions of grandeur, also known as grandiose delusions (GDs) or expansive delusions,[1] are a subtype of delusion characterized by the extraordinary belief that one is famous, omnipotent, wealthy, or otherwise very powerful or of a high status. Grandiose delusions often have a religious, science fictional, or supernatural theme. Examples include the extraordinary belief that one is a deity or celebrity, or that one possesses fantastical talents, accomplishments, or superpowers.[2]

While non-delusional grandiose beliefs are somewhat common—occurring in at least 10% of the general population[3]—and can influence a person's self-esteem, in some cases they may cause a person distress, in which case such beliefs may be clinically evaluated and diagnosed as a psychiatric disorder.

When studied as a psychiatric disorder in clinical settings, grandiose delusions have been found to commonly occur with other disorders, including in two-thirds of patients in a manic state of bipolar disorder, half of those with schizophrenia, patients with the grandiose subtype of delusional disorder, frequently as a comorbid condition in narcissistic personality disorder, and a substantial portion of those with substance abuse disorders.[3][4]

  1. ^ Ray Corsini (2016). The Dictionary of Psychology. Taylor & Francis. p. 985. ISBN 978-1-317-70570-3.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Knowles was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) American Psychiatric Association (2000)