Is there a mental illness that causes one to create an inner fantasy and express it as a “memoir”?

by admin
Filed under: illness 

I think there was a mental illness mentioned that is associated with authors of hoaxes and fraudulent memoirs, but I can’t think of it right off the bat. One that would make someone think that they’ve actually done what they’ve written. Any suggestions?

Alzheimer’s did it for Ronald Reagan when he was president. He spoke several times of things that happened to him when he was in the Army.

Problem: The only military he was in was the Army Reserve (Cavalry) before WW II, he never saw any action, and his only “active duty” was as an actor making training films. His poor eyesight prevented any active duty of any kind.

However, in his movies he often played a soldier, and it was these fictional war memories that he remembered and spoke of as if they were real memories of real war-time action. Fortunately, by this time his wife, Nancy, was already pretty much running the country for him.

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3 Comments on Is there a mental illness that causes one to create an inner fantasy and express it as a “memoir”?

  1. Brother Otter on Sat, 20th Dec 2008 1:06 pm

    2. Delusions?
    References :

  2. callmemimi f on Sat, 20th Dec 2008 1:11 pm

    3. Delusions of grandeur
    References :

  3. Dr. Bob on Sat, 20th Dec 2008 1:27 pm

    4. Alzheimer’s did it for Ronald Reagan when he was president. He spoke several times of things that happened to him when he was in the Army.

    Problem: The only military he was in was the Army Reserve (Cavalry) before WW II, he never saw any action, and his only “active duty” was as an actor making training films. His poor eyesight prevented any active duty of any kind.

    However, in his movies he often played a soldier, and it was these fictional war memories that he remembered and spoke of as if they were real memories of real war-time action. Fortunately, by this time his wife, Nancy, was already pretty much running the country for him.

    References :

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