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What Are Grandiose Delusions & How To Treat Them?

What Are Grandiose Delusions & How To Treat Them?

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Defining grandiose delusions can be complex. It is a psychological and serious mental illness that causes false beliefs. These beliefs are not based on or dependent on any culture, religion. A person may start believing that he has extraordinary abilities. However, they cannot find the difference between what is real and what isn’t. Further, we will understand the underlying causes, symptoms, signs, and how to overcome this disorder.

Understand The Core Of Grandiose Delusions: 

Grandiose delusions are a subtype and fall into the category of delusional disorder. It can correlate with various mental disorders such as schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder, narcissism, etc. They can build up delusions that are far from reality. They may think extra ordinary, such as they are born to do extraordinary things, or they are a sign from God, they believe they can hold power and change the universe, etc.

Read More: Treating Bipolar Schizophrenia – Schizoaffective Disorder

Unmask The Signs & Symptoms: 

When delusion of grandeur takes hold, it can affect on relationships or your professional life. The people might get jealous of a person who suffers from grandiose delusions. Here are the following delusion of grandeur symptoms you can spot.

  • They may think themselves superior to others from a wisdom or wealth perspective.
  • They do not accept criticism; they might get uncomfortable when others do not believe them.
  • They may believe they have divine powers or have been bestowed with supernatural abilities.
  • They can save humanity.
  • They deal with severe mood swings.
  • Their grandeur beliefs impact their relationships.

Causes Behind Grandiose Delusions: 

The causes of grandiose delusion have not been revealed yet. But it can happen due to various mental disorders. However, the grandiose mental health may include genetics, environmental factors. Besides this, you can explore the following disorders that can be associated with delusions.

Bipolar Disorder: 

Bipolar disorder is a subtype of grandiose delusions. This depends on the type of mood. A person feels the highs and lows. Also, a person may think highly of himself. Besides this, it can lead to physical pain. The exaggeration of delusional thinking might give you panic disorder. The manic phase leads you towards intense panic attacks that can worsen your condition.

Schizophrenia: 

The grandiose delusions include the symptoms that are associated with grandiose delusions. The person suffers from hallucinations and thinks negatively, which will reduce the pleasure in their life regarding anything. Besides this, this disorganized thinking can create depression and anxiety. The delusional thoughts make them uncomfortable and develop fear.

Dementia: 

People with dementia can have irrational thoughts. They often face challenges due to delusions. The grand delusion reduces the ability to think properly. This can lead them to unpleasant emotions.

Read More: Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath?

Substance Use: 

Cocaine, alcohol, and other substances may trigger a grandiose delusion. It can take away a person’s ability to differentiate between right and wrong. This can create difficulties in their lives and the people around them.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: 

Delusional grandiosity can be used as a coping mechanism to satisfy the man’s fragile ego. However, they are highly obsessed with themselves over nothing. Their exaggeration of everything leads them to delusional thinking. They don’t need admiration and often lack empathy. This can make them socially isolated.

Different Types Of Grandiose Delusions: 

The delusional disorder grandiose type can come in many forms, such as different beliefs.

Religious Delusions:

A person may believe that he is possessed of some divine power. He can save humanity with supernatural powers.

Wealth Delusions: 

A person may have the delusion that he is wealthy because of others. He runs a business like no other.

Fame & Recognition: 

A person may believe that he is a celebrity or can grab all the attention.

Power & Influence:

A person may feel he is in a state of power. He can control the state and bring the change.

Read More: Understanding Borderline Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Treatment Approaches For Grandiose Delusions: 

The symptoms of grandiose delusions can be challenging. It can affect your daily life functioning. You can check out the following effective ways to treat grandiose delusions.

Medication: 

The medicines are effective in diagnosing the symptoms.

Antipsychiatry: 

It helps to manage the intense and delusional thoughts.

Mood Stabilizers: 

It can control the mood swings that are associated with bipolar disorder. Besides this,

examples of grandiose delusions can lead a person into a delusion. This way, you can treat the underlying condition of a mental issue.

Antidepressants: 

It is an effective way to reduce stress and depression for people suffering from grandiose delusional disorder. It will help in reducing unrealistic beliefs.

Psychotherapy: 

It helps to examine the person’s underlying emotions. It helps to restore the person’s emotions and thinking patterns. Besides this, a person can get psychiatric medication management. It helps in reducing the psychotic symptoms in a person.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: 

This therapy helps a person to reframe their thoughts or behavior patterns. It will help them to block delusional thoughts. Moreover, a person can join telepsychiatry. This will encourage them to speak confidently about their emotions.

Reality Testing: 

A person with grandiose delusion assume themselves as alien. They act like they know secret or unique information that nobody can aware of. This therapy will help a person to distinguish a difference between reality or false beliefs. So, they can aware of the truth behind their thoughts.

Supporting Therapy: 

This therapy builds confidence and self-awareness in a person to reduce their unwanted stress and anxiety.

Read More: Behavioral Health VS Mental Health: What is the Difference?

Breaking The Illusion With Compassion & Care: 

The grandiose delusions are mostly neglected. It should be considered a serious mental illness that can affect people’s daily life functionality. However, you can get rid of it with proper treatment. Further, you can take the first initial step with us at Orange Coast Psychiatry. Our experts will be there to assist you with utmost care. Don’t wait another day to get it worse or make it difficult for your loved ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

You might have occasional thoughts that are quite normal. But overdoing it with false beliefs can lead to serious mental health issues.

You can ask a professional for help with medicines and therapies.

The other delusional disorders, such as bipolar disorder, dementia, and schizophrenia, can trigger grandiose disorder.

If it goes untreated, then it can lead a person to depression or anxiety.

Reference and Footnotes
  1. Mitra, P., Torrico, T. J., & Fluyau, D. (2024, March 1). Narcissistic Personality Disorder. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556001/
  2. Skelton, M., Khokhar, W. A., & Thacker, S. P. (2015). Treatments for delusional disorder. Cochrane Library, 2015(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd009785.pub
  3. Isham, L., Loe, B. S., Hicks, A., Wilson, N., Bentall, R. P., & Freeman, D. (2023). The Difficulties of Grandiose Delusions: harms, challenges, and implications for treatment engagement. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 49(5), 1194–1204. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbad016
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Dr. Grawert

Psychiatrist

Dr. Lauren Grawert is a double board-certified psychiatrist with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Addition Psychiatry. She is an integral part of the team of Supervising Psychiatrists for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast Psychiatry.
In previous roles, Dr. Lauren Grawert was the founder of LHG Telemedicine LLC, as well as Chief of Psychiatry (Northern Virginia) for the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group; she has also worked in private practice specializing in general psychiatry, substance use disorders, and medically assisted treatment (MAT). Dr. Grawert has served as an expert for the San Diego Community Response to Drug Overdose Task Force; the Addiction subcommittee leader for Kaiser Permanente National Mental Health & Addiction Leadership Organization; and a Professor of Psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine. She received her medical and psychiatric training at Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Grawert is also experienced with a variety of behavioral healthcare models through both private practice and leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente and other organizations.

Jackson Tea

MSN, PMHNP-BC

Administrative Director and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Jackson Tea, MSN, PMHNP-BC, serves as the Administrative Director and a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) at Orange Coast Psychiatry. Dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, Jackson is passionate about providing compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers individuals to take charge of their mental well-being. His expertise includes comprehensive psychiatric assessments, personalized medication management, and behavioral health interventions designed to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes in their mental health journey.
Jackson’s approach to care is rooted in the belief that mental health is just as vital as physical health. He focuses on creating a supportive, judgment-free environment where patients feel heard, valued, and understood. By offering individualized treatment plans tailored to each person’s unique needs and goals, Jackson helps clients overcome obstacles such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and other mental health challenges.
He holds a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from National University, a Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University, Los Angeles, where he earned Dean’s List honors. As a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, Jackson remains committed to advancing mental health awareness and promoting high standards of care in the field.
In his role at Orange Coast Psychiatry, Jackson leads clinical operations while ensuring regulatory compliance and delivering high-quality care. His core competencies include psychiatric assessment, evidence-based interventions, crisis management, clinical leadership, and risk mitigation. Above all, Jackson strives to make mental health care accessible and effective for everyone, supporting individuals in making meaningful progress, improving their quality of life, and achieving lasting well-being.

May Faustino

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC

May Faustino, PMHNP-BC, is a compassionate and highly skilled psychiatric provider with over four years of nursing experience, including three years specializing in psychiatric care. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Coast University, where she received extensive training in managing the psychiatric needs of pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations, as well as providing therapy and counseling services.
May has worked in diverse mental health settings, including forensic psychiatry at the Department of State Hospitals and behavioral health services at Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health. Her clinical expertise spans psychiatric assessments, medication management, and trauma-informed care, with a strong focus on treating anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders.
Bilingual in English and Tagalog, May is dedicated to serving diverse patient populations with a culturally sensitive approach. She is trained in evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing and is well-versed in trauma-informed care and suicide prevention strategies.
May is passionate about promoting resilience and recovery through preventive mental health care and individualized, holistic treatment plans. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her memberships in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
In her personal time, May enjoys fostering mindfulness and well-being through activities she loves, such as spending time with her husband and their two beloved cats, Pippy and Eva.

Dr. Montgomery

M.D. – Psychiatrist

Dr. Torri Montgomery, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with a subspecialty board certification in forensic psychiatry. Dr. Montgomery is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Montgomery earned her Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) from Arizona State University and her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from The University of Arizona, College of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. During her psychiatry residency, Dr. Montgomery completed a year-long certification in Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), earned a certificate from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe medication for the treatment of substance use disorders, and worked in a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic for substance use disorders. Additionally, she was appointed Chief Resident and received an Excellence in Teaching award.
After psychiatry residency, she completed her Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. After completing her fellowship, Dr. Montgomery has worked in public psychiatry for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She teaches, consults, and treats individuals with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, and serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders. Her experience includes outpatient, inpatient, emergency, consult liaison, addiction, dual-diagnosis, and forensic psychiatry. She is an expert evaluator on the Superior Court of California Panel of Expert Psychiatrists and Psychologists. Dr. Montgomery is an attending physician for the Harbor-UCLA Department of Psychiatry and serves as a psychiatrist with Orange Coast psychiatry.

Dr. Ravi

M.D. – Psychiatrist

Dr. Dave Ravi, M.D., is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with additional qualifications in geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Ravi is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Ravi graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (B.S., Magna Cum Laude), VCU School of Medicine (M.D.), Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Residency in Psychiatry), and John. A. Burns School of Medicine (Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry). He currently is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, HI and serves as a psychiatrist with Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Ravi is a dedicated community psychiatrist with extensive experience in public, correctional, inpatient and outpatient settings, and an experienced tele-psychiatrist. He consults on topics in general psychiatry, including quality improvement, treatment planning, and crisis management, and in correctional psychiatry, including recovery-oriented treatment for individuals with serious mental illness and dual diagnosis. His current and future interests focus on understanding the various approaches in managing the suffering and disturbance of complex psychiatric disorders, particularly in the use, misuse, overuse, and misrepresentation of psychotropic medications.

Dr. Irwin

M.D. , Ph.D – Psychiatrist

Dr. Scott Irwin, M.D., Ph.D., is Board Certified Psychiatrist. Dr. Irwin is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
His career mostly focuses on improving outcomes for those with cancer or other progressive, potentially life-limiting illnesses, and their families, through leading-edge clinical services, ongoing research, as well as program development, improvement, and implementation.
He is widely published, has been recognized at many levels for his research, teaching, consulting, and clinical endeavors, and has received research funding from the NCI, NIMH, the National Palliative Care Research Center, the Archstone Foundation, and industry.
Dr. Irwin earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and both his MD and PhD (neuroscience) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He successfully completed his psychiatry residency at UC San Diego as chief resident of Outpatient Psychiatric Services, as well as a two-year elective in hospice and palliative care at San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with subspecialty certification in psychosomatic medicine.

Richard Samedra.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC

Richard Samedra, PMHNP-BC, is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He brings over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, working with clients facing a wide range of acute and chronic mental health conditions. His journey began as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and Charge Nurse at Westminster Therapeutic Residential Treatment, where he supported clients dealing with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Richard’s dedication was centered on helping these individuals improve their mental health and transition to a lower level of care, whether that meant returning to their families, a board and care facility, or a sober-living environment.
Motivated by a growing passion for mental health care, Richard pursued his Registered Nurse (RN) education at Saddleback Community College and later transitioned to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital Behavioral Health. In this role, he specialized in geriatric psychiatry, working with older adults experiencing conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. This experience solidified his commitment to mental health, leading him to work at Bellflower Community Hospital, where he provided care for patients experiencing severe psychiatric crises, including suicidal ideation, manic and depressive episodes, substance use disorders, and exacerbated schizophrenia symptoms.
Inspired by the impactful work of PMHNPs at Bellflower, Richard enrolled in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Azusa Pacific University. To broaden his expertise, he worked full-time at College Hospital Costa Mesa while completing his studies. There, he gained comprehensive experience across various units, including adolescent, acute men’s and women’s, stabilization, and detox/med-surg. Now, as a PMHNP, Richard is committed to leveraging his diverse background and knowledge to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to those in need.
Richard currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where he is supervised by Dr. Montgomery.

Shaheena Gazipura

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC

Shaheena Gazipura is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 9 years of dedicated experience in both inpatient and outpatient mental health care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.
Shaheena began her career working on an adult psychiatric inpatient unit before transitioning to the geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. In addition to her clinical work, Shaheena also serves as a Nursing Clinical Instructor, guiding the next generation of nurses through their mental health rotations at a large community college.
Shaheena is a passionate advocate for mental health, believing that it is a fundamental pillar of overall well-being. She is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and strives to provide comprehensive, compassionate care that honors each individual’s unique experiences and challenges. Her goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where patients feel empowered to work alongside her in achieving their mental health goals.
Outside of her professional life, Shaheena enjoys exploring new culinary experiences, staying active through exercise, and planning her next travel adventures.
Shaheena currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Clint Nacar

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner -BC

Clint Nacar, PMHNP-BC is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Mr. Nacar graduated from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Currently Mr. Nacar works in an inpatient psychiatry unit at a leading academic medical center in Los Angeles, Renewed Mental Health Group, and Orange Coast Psychiatry
Mr. Nacar brings over 7+ years of experience with the mental health population. He works to help patients take control of their mental health through patient education, psychotherapy and medication management. Mr. Nacar’s areas of focus include: Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mr. Nacar treats children ages 6+, adolescents, and adults, offering both in-person services and telehealth at Renewed Mental Health Group.
With the collaboration of each patient, Mr. Nacar strives to develop individualized plans of care addressing each patient’s unique situation and concerns. He also encourages each patient to take charge of their mental health through a holistic approach while also employing the latest evidence based practices in treatment.

Clint is one of our most experienced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is 103NP Licensed in the State of California.

Cristian Cuevas

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

Cristian Cuevas, PMHNP-BC, is a highly skilled board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over seven years of experience in inpatient psychiatry and mental health.
A California State University Long Beach graduate, Cristian also earned recognition as a board-certified psychiatric mental health registered nurse. With a wealth of expertise in adult psychiatric care across the lifespan, Cristian has successfully diagnosed and treated a diverse range of mental health disorders.
Additionally, his specialized experience in child and adolescent inpatient populations further enhances his ability to provide comprehensive and compassionate mental health care.
Cristian Cuevas is the Lead Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is supervised by Dr Barrios.

Mina Cheriki

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC

Mina Cheriki is a masters-prepared Registered Nurse (RN), certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), and a board-certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She brings nearly a decade of experience within the healthcare industry, particularly within the fields of nursing, mental-health, education, research, and leadership. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, followed by a Master of Science degree in Nursing at The Ohio State University.
Rooted in the highest quality of evidence-based practice and informed by a holistic, collaborative, person-centered approach, Mina’s clinical skillset encompasses psychiatric assessments, medication management, psychotherapy, and education. Her clinical focus covers symptoms and conditions related to depression, anxiety, panic, mood imbalances, attention/concentration deficits and hyperactivity, executive dysfunction, life transitions, acute stress, grief, trauma, and more. Additionally, Mina has experience in providing ketamine-assisted therapies and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for mental health.
Coming from a family of immigrants, Mina is familiar with providing culturally-, religiously-, and spiritually sensitive care while also maintaining efforts in delivering highly therapeutic communications. Furthermore, she continues her commitment in providing evidence-driven care and in upholding standards of quality by remaining active in organizations such as the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Above all, Mina is committed to empowering her clients throughout their journeys toward recovery and well-mindedness. More specifically, she uses her combined knowledge and passions for physical and mental health to assist her clients toward achieving a lasting balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
Aside from her dedication to providing mental health care, Mina also enjoys exploring nature and hiking, making photography and art, as well as spending quality time with friends, family, and her dog, Kona.

Dr Barrios

Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr. Carlos Barrios is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in mental health care. His expertise in telepsychiatry has allowed him to serve patients across California and beyond. In his practice, Dr Barrios integrates metabolic and functional methodologies, focusing on guiding patients toward medication independence and emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health.
Outside of his professional life, Dr Barrios is passionate about kettlebell training, which helps him maintain my physical and mental wellness. He cherishes visiting his family in Guatemala, to reconnecting with his cultural roots and rejuvenating his spirit. Dr Barrios is also deeply involved in transcendental meditation and rucking, practices that not only provide him with tranquility but also keep him grounded and connected to nature. These hobbies reflect his commitment to a holistic approach to health, both personally and professionally.