Paranoid Personality Disorder – Salma Parveen S, Assistant Professor / Psychology

 

Paranoid Personality Disorder – Salma Parveen S

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental health condition marked by a long-term pattern of distrust and suspicion of others without adequate reason to be suspicious (paranoia). People with PPD often believe that others are trying to demean, harm or threaten them.

In this blog, we will explore how paranoid personality disorder rise up in an individual and how it is diagnosed.

What is paranoid personality disorder (PPD)?

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental health condition marked by a long-term pattern of distrust and suspicion of others without adequate reason to be suspicious (paranoia). People with PPD often believe that others are trying to demean, harm or threaten them.

People with paranoid personality disorder often don’t think their behavior and way of thinking are problematic.

PPD is one of a group of conditions called Cluster A, or eccentric personality disorders. People with these disorders have unusual and eccentric thinking or behavior.

It’s important to note that people with paranoid personality disorder don’t experience delusions or hallucinations with paranoia, as commonly seen in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and severe manic episodes in bipolar disorder.

What age does paranoid personality disorder begin?

People with paranoid personality disorder typically start experiencing symptoms and showing signs of the condition by their late teens or early adult years.

Symptoms

• Doubt the commitment, loyalty or trustworthiness of others, believing others are exploiting or deceiving them.
• Be reluctant to confide in others or reveal personal information because they’re afraid the information will be used against them.
• Be unforgiving and hold grudges.
• Be hypersensitive and take criticism poorly.
• Read hidden meanings in the innocent remarks or casual looks of others.
• Perceive attacks on their character that aren’t apparent to others.
• Have persistent suspicions, without justified reason, that their spouses or romantic partners are being unfaithful.
• Be cold and distant in their relationships with others and might become controlling and jealous to avoid being betrayed.
• Not see their role in problems or conflicts, believing they’re always right.
• Have difficulty relaxing.
• Be hostile, stubborn and argumentative.

Causes of paranoid personality disorder

          Researchers have found that childhood emotional neglect, physical neglect and supervision neglect play a significant role in the development of PPD in adolescence and early adulthood.

Researchers used to think there was likely a genetic link among schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorder and PPD, but more studies have revealed that this connection isn’t as strong as they once thought.

Diagnosis 

          Personality disorders, including PPD, can be difficult to diagnose, as most people with a personality disorder don’t think there’s a problem with their behavior or way of thinking.

When a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, suspects someone might have paranoid personality disorder, they often ask broad, general questions that won’t create a defensive response or hostile environment. They ask questions that will shed light on:

• Past history.
• Relationships.
• Previous work history.
• Reality testing.
• Impulse control.

     Mental health providers base a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder on the criteria for the condition in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

          When someone with PPD does seek treatment, psychotherapy (talk therapy), such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is the treatment of choice. Therapy focuses on increasing general coping skills, especially trust and empathy, as well as on improving social interaction, communication and self-esteem.

          As people with PPD often distrust others, it poses a challenge for healthcare professionals because trust and rapport-building are important factors of psychotherapy. As a result, many people with PPD may not follow their treatment plan and may even question the motives of the therapist.

Healthcare providers generally don’t prescribe medication to treat PPD. However, medications — such as anti-anxiety, antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs — might be prescribed if the person’s symptoms are extreme or if they have an associated psychological condition, such as anxiety or depression.