Home » Mental Disorder » Paranoid Personality Disorder Paranoid Personality Disorder is a type of mental disorder characterized by excessive distrust and suspiciousness of others. When this behavior becomes increasingly persistent and distressing, only then can this disorder be detected. Under the normal circumstances it is difficult to identify a person suffering from this disorder. Paranoid Personality Disorder can occur right from childhood and goes onto adolescence. Some of the characteristic features that can be associated with this disorder include poor peer relationships, solitariness, social anxiety, hypersensitivity, idiosyncratic fantasies, underachievement in school and peculiar thoughts and language. Individuals suffering from Paranoid Personality Disorder are usually difficult to get along with. They also have difficulty with close relationships due to their excessive suspicious nature which makes them highly hostile. People with this disorder may experience short psychotic phases when under excess stress.

No specific causes for Paranoid Personality Disorder has been known yet though the incidence appears to be more common in families having a schizophrenic member. Some probable causes of this disorder could be negative childhood experiences and baseless parental rage. It can also be provoked by condescending parental influence which develops intense insecurities in the child. Common symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder include deep unfounded suspicion of others actions and obsession with unwarranted doubts about loyalty of friends and associates. They have problems confiding in others due to the fear of that knowledge being used maliciously against them. There is also a tendency of finding hidden humiliating or threatening meanings in simple harmless remarks. People with this disorder bear grudges and find it difficult to forgive insults and injuries of others.

Another common trait of people with Paranoid Personality Disorder is over-possessiveness of their partners and has suspicion about the fidelity of their spouse. Their argumentative and distrustful nature often evokes a hostile response in others, which further serves to confirm their initial suspicion. They also have a strong need to have a high measure of control over the people around them. Though they are often critical of others, they have immense difficulty in accepting criticism themselves. People with Paranoid Personality Disorder often exhibit vaguely concealed idealistic grandiose fantasies. The ones who are more severely affected with this disorder are perceived as fanatics by others. They develop closely knit groups with others who have common paranoid beliefs like them.

There are special treatments for Paranoid Personality Disorder whereby the affected person can get cured. Usually people with this disorder are hard to treat as they may get suspicious of the doctor. If this disorder is not treated it can become chronic and lead to a number of dire consequences. Common and effective methods for alleviating Paranoid Personality Disorder include a combination of medication and therapy. Psychotherapy is one of the most effective methods for treating this disorder.

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