Paranoid personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by a chronic distrust of friends, strangers, family and authority figures.
It is a lifelong condition, but symptoms typically become milder by the age of 40 to 50.
There is no cure for paranoid personality disorder; however, treatments are available to help people manage their condition. Treatment may involve a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Paranoid personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by a chronic distrust of friends, strangers, family and authority figures.
As with other personality disorders, paranoid personality disorder involves a long-standing and ongoing pattern of behavior, so it is typically diagnosed in adulthood. Although considered a lifelong condition, the symptoms typically decrease in intensity with age; for most people with the condition, symptoms grow milder by the time they reach their 40s or 50s.
There is no single factor that causes the development of paranoid personality disorder. Instead, it is thought to be due to a complex relationship between social factors (how a person acts with their family and friends during childhood), genetics and temperament.
Some healthcare professionals think that this disorder may be a learned behavioral response that can be traced back to a person's childhood. It is thought that a child who is exposed to an environment in which an adult has unpredictable episodes of anger and rage may not have the mechanisms to cope or escape, so instead develops a paranoid way of thinking as a way to deal with the stressful episodes.
Related to genes, the body's units of inheritance or origin.
Some factors that may increase the risk of developing paranoid personality disorder include:
False belief in something that is not changed by logic and reason. Delusions are commonly associated with mental health conditions such as paranoia and schizophrenia.
The patterns of paranoid thought and behavior tend to form during adolescence.
In adolescents the symptoms can include:
The typical symptoms in adults can include:
People with paranoid personality disorder do not experience psychosis, nor are they delusional; instead, they are convinced that others are out to get them, or to humiliate them, which leads them to act with hostility and become socially isolated.
A feeling of tension, nervousness and dread about future events. It can trigger physical symptoms such as a rapid pulse or breathing difficulties.
An abnormal mental state characterized by a loss of contact with reality.
False belief in something that is not changed by logic and reason. Delusions are commonly associated with mental health conditions such as paranoia and schizophrenia.
Diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder can be difficult, as there is no test that can confirm whether a person has the condition. A diagnosis is usually made by a specialist (psychiatrist), based on a person's medical history and a psychological assessment. The specialist may ask questions about the person's childhood, school, work and personal relationships. They may also ask hypothetical questions to gauge the person's response to certain situations.
During diagnosis, it is important to rule out other factors that can trigger paranoid behavior, such as use of recreational drugs, as these can sometimes cause paranoid behavior.
It is also important to note that for a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder, the symptoms cannot be related to other mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder with psychotic features, or another psychotic disorder.
A medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
Relating to, arising in, or affecting the mind.
A state where someone is unable to distinguish reality from hallucination or delusion.
There is no cure for paranoid personality disorder; however, treatments are available to help people manage their condition. Treatment may involve a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
The condition can be difficult to treat; a person with this condition does not typically initiate treatment and often ends it before it is completed.
The most effective treatment for paranoid personality disorder is psychotherapy, which is also knowns as 'talking therapy'. It involves a person meeting regularly with a therapist to discuss their thoughts and feelings, and help them to manage their condition.
A common type of psychotherapy used to treat paranoid personality disorder is cognitive behavior therapy, which focuses on improving coping skills, social interaction, communication and self-esteem. However, because psychotherapy is founded on trust, and people with paranoid personality disorder inherently mistrust others, they may not stick to the treatment plan.
In some cases, medication may be prescribed to treat issues associated with paranoid personality disorder such as depression or anxiety. However, adherence to medication can be poor, since people with paranoid personality disorder have a mistrust of medications.
A feeling of tension, nervousness and dread about future events. It can trigger physical symptoms such as a rapid pulse or breathing difficulties.
A psychological or 'talking' therapy that focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that are causing a person distress.
With ongoing treatment, a person with paranoid personality disorder can function normally. However, if left untreated, a person with the condition may find it difficult to hold down a job, or have fulfilling social and personal relationships.
Paranoid personality disorder is not preventable, but early treatment can help a person with the condition learn how to deal with their thoughts and behaviors.