What is grandiose delusional disorder and what are some examples and symptoms?

Answer 1

NOTE FROM MARCY: Anyone of us could fit into some of these categories and the following is simply a study of people with REAL afflictions and not persons who display some of these traits off and on. "Grandiose Delusional Disorder" is complex because Delusional Disorder can be labeled as bi-polar or also under the label of Schizophrenia. Most people think that Schizophrenia just means the person talks to themselves, but this too is a complex disease. "Grandiose" is not the main condition of the illness, but a side effect of many mental dysfunctions. People with Dementia (in old age) can have grandiose ideas. Delusional Disorder SYMPTOMS This disorder is characterized by the presence of non-bizarre delusions which have persisted for at least one month. Non-bizarre delusions typically are beliefs of something occurring in a person's life which is not out of the realm of possibility. For example, the person may believe their significant other is cheating on them, that someone close to them is about to die, a friend is really a government agent, etc. All of these situations could be true or possible, but the person suffering from this disorder knows them not to be (e.g., through fact-checking, third-person confirmation, etc.). People who have this disorder generally don't experience a marked impairment in their daily functioning in a social, occupational or other important setting. Outward behavior is not noticeably bizarre or objectively characterized as out-of-the-ordinary. The delusions can not be better accounted for by another disorder, such as schizophrenia, which is also characterized by delusions (which are bizarre). The delusions also cannot be better accounted for by a mood disorder, if the mood disturbances have been relatively brief. Specific Diagnostic Criteria Non bizarre delusions (i.e., involving situations that occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, infected, loved at a distance, or deceived by spouse or lover, or having a disease) of at least 1 month's duration. Criterion A for Schizophrenia has never been met. Note: Tactile and olfactory hallucinations may be present in Delusional Disorder if they are related to the delusional theme. Criterion A of Schizophrenia requires two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated): delusions hallucinations disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition Note: Criteria A of Schizophrenia requires only one symptom if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other. Apart from the impact of the delusion(s) or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired and behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre. If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition. Specify type (the following types are assigned based on the predominant delusional theme): Erotomanic Type: delusions that another person, usually of higher status, is in love with the individual Grandiose Type: delusions of inflated worth, power, knowledge, identity, or special relationship to a deity or famous person Jealous Type: delusions that the individuals sexual partner is unfaithful Persecutory Type: delusions that the person (or someone to whom the person is close) is being malevolently treated in some way Somatic Type: delusions that the person has some physical defect or general medical condition Mixed Type: delusions characteristic of more than one of the above types but no one theme predominates MAKING IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND: (BEWARE OF ARM CHAIR PSYCHOLOGY!) ... Marcy) Delusional is when a person that believes someone is going to die in a short period of time, or they believe they are being poisoned, followed or "someone is out to get them." They may even think they see a ghost of a relative. If the facts have been proven to the person suffering from this and their thought patterns continue then they are suffering from "Delusion." However, (this is what makes it tough) there are actually people that can "feel" that a person(s) is going to come to a bad end (a gut feeling) and it DOES happen. Because others don't hear or see something doesn't make it so. There have been police cases where indeed someone was being poisoned and no one would listen and the person ended up dead. Seeing a ghost? Stranger Things have happened and some people swear by it so unless we can prove otherwise then there is no argument on this one. Someone could be stalked by a total stranger and when the stalker does what he knows best he allows his victim to see him, but is careful others around that victim don't see him. So, is the person really "delusional" or, is their a grain of truth in it? We have to weigh the situation of what the person is saying and unless we can prove it without a doubt then we can't expect the person saying it to believe otherwise. Grandiose is something we all must be careful of as well because we all possess it to a degree. It's normal to a degree in most people when they might say something like, "Oh yes, I did get to see Johnny Depp on set." Most people would raise an eyebrow, but, it's highly possible that person did indeed experience this. A person that is highly motivated may make the statement "I'm going to write the best screenplay out there!" Again others will see this as grandiose thoughts, but, it does happen and that person may well make their dream come true. People who have the side effect of grandiose behavior will inflate themselves by making themselves appear more important and this could also come under the heading of "compulsive liar." These types of people need recognition and a prime example is Stephen Glass who wrote articles full of lies and ruined many a person's career. Most of us have and still do experience some jealousy. Perhaps someone paying too much attention to your g/f, b/f, wife or husband. Although some people may be quiet about their jealousy it still can rear it's ugly head. People with "grandiose" just can't let it be and will often ruin relationships believing that their partner has cheated on them or is staring at the opposite sex and is interested. They may make statements they are going to sail around the world when they've never had any experience sailing a sloop anywhere. The "Somatic Type" can also come under the label of "Hypochondriac" which is a person that believes they have some illness. Many elderly people will continually go to the doctor not because they suffer from "Somatic behavior" but because they are lonely and visiting the old doc is a way to break that loneliness. Some people suffer from anxiety and it can be the worst feeling one could imagine so they feel that they must have some terrible disease causing these terrible feelings and will constantly see their doctor or talk constantly about their health to anyone that will listen. Again we must be careful in labeling. Since psychology is not a proven science and a condition must have a name I'm not big on labels! Many arm-chair psychologists (don't have degrees in psychology or have take a few courses and dropped out) can harm another deeply by labeling. Leave it up to the pros!