Paranoia is the feeling that everyone is trying to harm you.

Diagnosis of paranoid disorder

There are many theories about where this psychopathological condition comes from.
Of course, heredity has a big influence. Twins or twins always have approximately the same degree of paranoia, while in other relatives the manifestations may be insignificant. But still they will be. There are a number of factors that can affect a person’s psycho-emotional level:

• Experienced violence, especially in childhood;
• Excessive demands and/or guardianship on the part of parents;
• Poor relationship with parents;
• Bad habits;
• Negative effects of television: excessive viewing of horror films in emotionally unstable people can cause the development of paranoia;
• Frequent conflict situations;
• Non-recognition of merits and achievements by society.

The paranoid personality type in some cases is a variant of the norm and its symptoms are mild; a favorable environment prevents the development of further mental disorders.

There are expansive and sensitive options:

• Expansive is characterized by: excessive aggression, a tendency to lead, and assertiveness. They themselves create conflict situations and consider everyone to blame except themselves. Their shortcomings go unnoticed, and if the interlocutor points them out, this provokes a new outburst of anger.
• Sensitive. In contrast to the expansive type, such patients are withdrawn, easily offended, suspicious and hypochondriac. Very low self-esteem, love cleanliness and order, do not tolerate conflicts well. Increased demands lead to constant work on oneself, which contributes to the development of constant stress.

Separately, we can distinguish fanatics - adherents of a particular religion or any particular object of the subject. They pay special attention to the object of their adoration and have an unhealthy interest in it.

Delusions of jealousy are common. It is unfounded and, as mentioned earlier, has no particular reason for it. The whole point is that logical chains, which for some reason were not correctly compared in the outside world, are completed in the mind of a paranoid person. Moreover, his thoughts are non-standard, and the distortion of consciousness paints his own picture of the world. Out of jealousy, they are capable of committing crazy acts, in some cases they can resort to radical methods - murder.

Individuals with paranoid personality traits prefer to work alone. Isolation from society and belief only in their own point of view to some extent contribute to such people in achieving their own goals.

Paranoid psychopathy is diagnosed after a medical examination. Single symptoms in no way indicate that a person is sick. But if the clinical picture is persistent and manifests itself over a long period of time in the form of: maladaptation, frequent worries, delusional ideas, immunity to criticism and other symptoms, then this serves as an indication for contacting a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, depending on the manifestations of the disease.

To exclude organic lesions of organs and systems, instrumental and laboratory research methods and consultation with medical specialists may be prescribed. However, almost always such a person is physically healthy and his disorders are observed only in the mental sphere. During a conversation with a patient, one is struck by denial of his condition, distrust of the doctor, reacts violently to some phrases, actively gesticulates and blames everyone for the problems, but not himself.

Reasons for the development of paranoia

One of the reasons why paranoia can develop is a dysfunction of the brain.

It can develop due to a defect in protein metabolism, which affects the coordinated functioning of neurons. Actually, various disorders in the nervous system can also affect the psyche.

Older people may develop diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. With them, memory (what is it?), attention, thinking, and emotional background suffer. Changes occur in the personality itself: people become angry and suspicious.

Often such paranoia is characterized precisely in the form of delusions of damage. They think that “everyone wants to get rid of old people.”

If one of your relatives had similar symptoms, they could be passed on through heredity.

Education is also a common cause of the disease . For example, a child was scared that there were evil people around who could cause harm. They should not be trusted, and it is better to avoid them. Or the child heard from mom and dad that their neighbors and friends were jealous of their family.

Perhaps, already in adulthood, the person suffered serious psychological trauma . People close to you deceived you, set you up, or you just got caught by an unfriendly group. After which the traumatized person begins to approach everything with fear.

In this case, low self-esteem, neurosis or depressive disorder could provoke the development of paranoia.

When for some reason you had to be in long-term isolation from society (for example, a serious illness), then after entering society there may not be a quick adaptation. Therefore, a person may be afraid and wary of others.

Symptoms

Paranoia is an extreme degree of a person’s dependence on the opinions of other people. The assessment is made by a paranoid person exclusively in relation to those around him personally. Anomaly of behavior is manifested in resentment, selfishness, high self-esteem, whims, increased susceptibility to criticism and sensitivity to failures.

Patients with paranoia are conflict-oriented. Auditory and/or visual hallucinations, anxiety, desire for revenge, false judgments, pedantry, stubbornness are the constant companions of a paranoid person. It is quite difficult for such people to establish good relationships with others. They rarely have an active social life.

Scientists have not been able to fully understand the mechanism of the disease. It is believed that one of the reasons for the development of paranoid personality disorder is genetics. The second reason is traumatic life circumstances in childhood: violence, punishment from adults. The third condition is considered to be psychological harm from others, ridicule, insult, deception.

The full list of causes of paranoia includes:

• heredity and associated changes in the brain;
• neurological causes;
• Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases;
• long-term use of corticosteroids;
• addiction to alcohol and drugs;
• childhood psychological trauma;
• sociopathy, fear of people;
• difficult life circumstances.

Based on symptoms, there are several types of paranoia: involutional (in women before menopause); hypochondriacal (the patient’s confidence in the presence of somatic pathologies); lust (delusions of an erotic and/or love nature), persecutory (feelings of persecution); expansive (delusions of grandeur, power) and others.

Complications of paranoia have catastrophic consequences. A person loses his job, his family is destroyed. Social isolation contributes to the development of suicidal tendencies in an individual. The desire to get rid of the “source of danger” sometimes leads to manifestations of cruelty and violence towards relatives and strangers. The desire to injure oneself is a favorite pastime of paranoids. It sometimes ends in the death of the patient himself.

Dr. Isaev’s psychiatric center specializes in treating the disease. The clinic’s doctors carry out diagnostic procedures in a timely manner and provide comprehensive treatment. After completing a course of therapy, the patient is prescribed post-rehabilitation measures aimed at speedy recovery and return to a full life.

The main signs of paranoid disorder include preoccupation with one’s own overvalued ideas, egocentrism, and inflated self-esteem. Such people tend to get stuck in negative emotions. At the same time, the individual is distinguished by a vindictive character, which is why it is difficult to find his place in the team.

Symptoms of paranoid disorder

People who are paranoid are judged by one criterion: their attitude towards themselves. If a person has a positive attitude towards a paranoid person and speaks well of his activities, then he will be assessed as good. For a paranoid person, disagreement with one’s own point of view, as well as indifference, is unacceptable. He will consider such people his enemies and will even try to take cruel revenge.

Paranoids do not have a sense of humor; they are capricious and irritable. Their emotions take precedence over reason and logic. However, they can be very careful, treat any work they do conscientiously, and cannot stand injustice.

Carriers of paranoid psychopathy experience failures very acutely; one might say, they get stuck on them, blaming others for their own mistakes and shortcomings.

Such individuals tend to overestimate their own capabilities, rarely change their point of view, and are quite rigid and straightforward. If facts can cast doubt on the conclusions of a paranoid person, they will simply be ignored. Paranoid psychopathy is unusual for teenagers. It is usually observed in mature individuals 30-40 years old.

Paranoid psychopathy is characterized by the following manifestations:

• stable patterns of perception and behavior that do not coincide with generally accepted norms;
• rigid behavior;
• psychopathy begins to develop at a fairly early age.

Symptoms of paranoid disorder according to ICD-10:

• increased sensitivity to failure;
• permanent dissatisfaction with other people, vindictiveness and rancor;
• suspiciousness: neutral actions of others can be interpreted as hostile;
• combativeness towards rights issues;
• obsessive thoughts about a partner’s infidelity;
• the paranoid considers himself extremely significant: all events are interpreted as having one or another relation to him personally.

People with BPD are distrustful and suspicious of others. They tend to see other people as threats and believe that they will be harmed or deceived. This disorder makes it difficult to trust other people and have close, meaningful relationships.

Some additional signs and symptoms of BPD:

• increased alertness
• sensitivity to criticism
• aggressiveness
• emotional rigidity
• need for solitude

Substance abuse is also common among people with BPD.

Individuals with paranoid disorder tend to establish overvalued ideas, including overvaluation of their own personality. They react violently to criticism, are constantly dissatisfied with someone or something, are vindictive and vindictive.

People with paranoid disorder tend to distort facts and perceive neutral or even friendly actions as hostile. Events in life are often associated with conspiracies; they do not see their own responsibility and participation in cause-and-effect relationships. A paranoid person exhibits tendencies towards egocentrism. For example, he may be convinced that the neighbors are making noise on purpose to annoy him. And on the street cats also swear on purpose.

Paranoid people are too susceptible to negative stressors and frustrations. Affective states are experienced acutely and for a long time. At the slightest memory of what happened, emotions come to life again. Sometimes a paranoid person can hide his emotions, but only so that later, having come up with a plan, he will take revenge for everything.

They react very vividly to mistakes and failures. Paranoids are ambitious, arrogant and arrogant, do not know how to forgive insults, are jealous and intractable, straightforward, and tend to overestimate their capabilities and abilities. They love to defend that they are right, but they are not always really right. It always seems to a paranoid person that those around him are encroaching on his property, merits and achievements, and are trying to exploit and manipulate him for their own purposes.

Ideas of jealousy are sometimes replaced by others, such as ideas of invention or hypochondria. The interests and feelings of other people are not taken into account.

The first signs of paranoid disorder usually appear in childhood and, without correction, intensify with age. The peak severity of symptoms occurs at age 30.

The meaning of the word paranoia

paranoia
(para + Greek poeo – perceive, think). Identified by K. Kahlbaum (1863) as a mental disorder with predominant disturbances of rational activity. Paranoid delusions are systematized; incorrect interpretation of real facts plays an important role in its construction. E. Kraepelin (1912, 1915), who identified P. as an independent nosological form, soon narrowed its scope, excluding cases of paraphrenia from P. and highlighting psychogenic querulyant delusions. K. Birnbaum (1915) and E. Kretschmer (1918) considered P. only in terms of psychogenic pathology, the clinical picture of which reflects factors such as character predispositions, a psychogenically traumatic environment, and the presence of key experiences. P.B. Gannushkin (1914, 1933) distinguished paranoid symptom formation in psychopathic individuals and designated it as paranoid development along with cases of paranoid symptom formation within the framework of process pathology, mainly sluggish schizophrenia. This point of view is predominant at the present time - paranoid development in psychopathic individuals and the paranoid variant (stable, long-term) of atypically occurring paranoid schizophrenia are distinguished. In schizophrenia, we can talk about a paranoid (transient) stage of delusion formation, preceding the paranoid stage. - P. alcoholic. Chronic delusional psychosis developing in patients with alcoholism. In most cases - systematized delusions of jealousy, sometimes - associated ideas of persecution. The etiopathogenesis is complex - we are talking about psychogenic paranoid delusions caused by alcoholic encephalopathy. - P. struggle. An outdated term corresponding to ideas about paranoid development, proceeding with increased activity and fanaticism and aimed at protecting supposedly violated rights. - P. desires. An obsolete term: used to designate a systematized delusion of pardon, invention, or love-erotic (erotomanic). — P. involutional (Kleist K., 1912). Psychosis, characterized predominantly by systematized delusions and occurring in women at the age of menopause, between 40 and 50 years. Characteristic are acute onset and long-term inpatient course of mental disorders. The constitutional nature of the disease (hypoparanoic constitution) was noted. In premorbid – psychopathic character traits. K. Kleist attributed P.i. to the group of constitutional autochthonous psychoses with a non-progressive course. - P. hypochondriacal. Systematized hypochondriacal delusion, usually beginning with the stage of senestopathies, against the background of which delusional interpretations arise. — P. acute (Westphal S., 1876). Acute psychoses occurring with hallucinatory-delusional and stuporous symptoms. P.B. Gannushkin (1904) showed that P.o. is a collective concept, a symptom complex, and not a nosological form. — P. acute expansive. It was considered as a variant of acute paranoia, the clinical picture of which is dominated by megalomanic delusional ideas (of invention, greatness, power or religious content). - P. persecutory (lat. persecutor - pursuer). Systematized interpretative delusions of persecution. - P. sensitive. See Sensitive relational delusion. - P. conscience. Systematized delusions of guilt and self-blame, characteristic of depressive states. — P. suggestive-delusional (Bekhterev V.M., 1910). A variant of paranoia, characterized by a predominance in the clinical picture described by V.M. Bekhterev in 1905 delirium of hypnotic fascination. - P. litigious. A type of P. struggle, in which litigious behavior reaches particular severity. — P. chronic (Berger H., 1913). A disease characterized by paranoid delusions and occurring at involutionary age. Despite its chronic course, it does not lead to the formation of dementia. One of the names of involutional paranoia (cf.: Kleist involutionary paranoia).

Explanatory dictionary of psychiatric terms

Clinical picture

A psychopathological condition may have the following symptoms:

• Distrust of people;
• Suspicion;
• A stormy emotional component during conflicts, and during peaceful dialogues – emotions are scarce;
• Information acquisition bias. A person with this type of personality perceives only what he himself wants to see;
• Reluctance to accept the words of others;
• Not accepting criticism and advice;
• Inability to forgive mistakes;
• Vulnerability and sensitivity;
• Aggressiveness;
• Selfishness;
• Suspiciousness;
• Fanaticism;
• Grudge;
• Touchiness;
• Straightforwardness.

Based on the above symptoms, we can conclude that many people have these traits, but not everyone develops and progresses to a paranoid personality type.

As a rule, symptoms begin at 20-25 years of age, and the clinical picture increases gradually, being fully formed by 30 years of age. There are often somatic manifestations that are nonspecific: tachycardia, shortness of breath, a feeling of a lump in the throat, sweating, a feeling of chilly limbs, and more. In some cases, the temperature may rise, which simulates infectious diseases. Sometimes delusions of jealousy arise, and it is motivated not by doubt in the partner himself, but by the low self-esteem of the sick person.

Diagnostics and tests

A doctor must evaluate a person to see if they meet the criteria for BPD. Health care providers will only diagnose BPD if a person has four of the following criteria:

1. Suspects that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him.
2. Worries about loyalty and whether he can trust his family, friends or colleagues.
3. Does not trust other people out of fear that they will use any information against him.
4. Finds remarks or events humiliating or threatening.
5. Holds a grudge.
6. Takes criticism negatively and acts aggressively in response.
7. Suspects that a spouse or partner is unfaithful without any reason.

Some diagnostic criteria are similar to other conditions, such as:

• bipolar disorder
• schizophrenia
• depressive disorder with psychotic features
• other psychotic disorders

A doctor will only diagnose BPD if the symptoms are not related to one of the above conditions.

Paranoid psychopathy and thinking

Paranoid character traits leave their mark on communication with other people and on the perception of information in general. Even the most insignificant events that concern a paranoid person are perceived by him as something glaring and important. Moreover, it is characteristic that only his point of view is correct, everything else is absurdity and chaotic statements.

Being in constant chronic stress, a sick person is increasingly protected from a hostile world through aggressiveness and distrust of others. Forming a psycho-emotional barrier around themselves, they do not want to let anyone in, they see everyone as enemies and rivals. Conclusions are distorted, even a negative situation is presented in an even darker light, and delusions are formed.

People with paranoia consider themselves special, different from everyone else. It is worth noting that they are indeed capable of achieving success in creativity and in other areas where contact with others tends to be zero. In society, as a rule, they do not always achieve results. And over time, some limited areas of activity cease to succumb to paranoia due to the aggravation of the pathological process.

Despite this, sometimes the paranoid person’s criticism of his condition is preserved, but more often than not, borderline mental instability develops into pathology.

How to treat paranoia

Mental disorders begin in childhood, but manifest themselves mainly in middle age. Such people are difficult to treat, because the patient’s suspicions are often transferred to the doctor. The treatment uses antipsychotics with an antidelusional effect. Psychotherapeutic treatment of the patient plays a particularly important role.

If symptoms are detected, it is worth starting treatment. Psychotherapy is best. Attending individual courses helps. When consciousness is controlled, the patient responds positively to treatment. It is very important that a person is supported by loved ones during treatment, and that he completely trusts his doctor.

What do you know about paranoids? Share your knowledge in the comments.

Suicide Prevention

If you know that a person is at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or harm to another person:

• Call the single emergency number “112”.
• Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
• Remove weapons, medications, or other potentially dangerous items.
• Listen to the person without judgment.

Related research article: Borderline personality disorder has a strong link to childhood trauma.

Before using the advice and recommendations contained on the Medical Insider website, be sure to consult with your doctor.

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Differential diagnosis

Paranoid psychopathy is a diagnosis of exclusion and is made exclusively by a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. This is due to the fact that only by excluding possible somatic diseases can we say with certainty that this is a violation only of a person’s mental activity. Sometimes it is a consequence of alcohol dependence, the use of psychotropic drugs, traumatic brain injuries, or organic brain damage.

usually either the mother or father suffers from this disease. In other cases, the probability of mental illness is 5-10%. To make a diagnosis, a psychiatrist performs a series of tests. For example, the concave mask test. Patients with schizophrenia are not able to distinguish its concave side due to the distortion of reality.

Treatment of paranoid personality disorder

It is mainly aimed at correcting the psycho-emotional background, so it is very important to promptly refer such a patient to a psychotherapist. For mild psychopathology, psychoanalysis, self-analysis, Jung therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and other methods help. The main thing in communicating with a paranoid person is the formation of a trusting relationship between the doctor and the patient.

Working with a psychotherapist should influence the sick person in the best way, change his ideas about the people around him and the world, force himself to trust people, and set the right model of behavior. Aromatherapy, massages, acupuncture allow you to relax and get rid of constant stress.

Treatment can be outpatient, but it is worth considering the fact that the patient may not follow the doctor’s recommendations and not take the medications prescribed to him. Therefore, control must be established over it.

Paranoia, what is it?

Paranoid disorder is a specific disorder of thinking and perception of reality. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of delusional ideas that are extremely valuable for the patient. But at the same time, a person suffering from paranoia retains the clarity of logical reasoning in those areas that are not captured by delusional ideas.

A paranoid person is a person who can be perceived by others as completely healthy and adequate. People notice “some oddities” in behavior, but do not attach any importance to it. Paranoids maintain social contacts and develop them productively.

This feature of the manifestation of paranoid illness is dangerous for the patient himself. After all, paranoid people usually come to the attention of doctors only after a sharp deterioration in their condition, when the pathology develops into a severe degree.

Difficulties in identifying the disease occur even if the patient occupies a certain position in society and is respected among loved ones. Subordinates and relatives listen to the paranoid and share and support his sick views and ideas.

Signs of Paranoid Personality Disorder

Those around them understand that something wrong is going on with a person when a certain inadequacy, accompanied by severe conflicts, slips into his behavior . When the disorder has already developed into an irreversible stage.

Prevention of paranoia

Psychiatrists at Dr. Isaev’s Clinic in Moscow do not guarantee 100% relief from the disease. The patient's health is in his hands. Doctors strongly recommend that you forget about alcohol and drugs. Bad habits only stimulate the development of the disease. The less stress, the lower the risk of relapse. Staying in the fresh air will relieve bad mood and normalize metabolism.

A good self-regulation technique for paranoid personality disorder is to develop the person’s ability to choose a “battlefield.” A person suffering from paranoia must be taught how to use energy rationally and choose really worthy “battles” and “opponents.” People diagnosed with paranoia find it quite difficult not to react to minor insults and insults.

Prevention of psychopathic conditions is nonspecific. Creating harmonious relationships between a person with paranoid disorder and the people around him can improve his condition and prevent the development of mental illness. If there is a predisposition to the development of paranoia, then it is necessary to regularly consult a psychotherapist about establishing the correct picture of the world; in the presence of nervous breakdowns, take medications that have a sedative effect. Obsessive thoughts can be stopped with hypnosis, it gives good results. Doctors give a number of general recommendations:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle;
• Eliminate bad habits;
• Correct and promptly treat concomitant diseases;
• Walk regularly before bed;
• Take vitamin supplements in autumn and spring;
• Do not overexert yourself at work;
• Avoid any conflict situation.

Treatment Methods for Paranoid Disorder

Paranoia in the developed phase, already established, is very difficult to treat. What should people do if they experience a disorder in a loved one? Find an experienced psychiatrist.

The doctor must be able to gain the trust of the sick person. This is very difficult to do with a paranoid, obsessive (especially stalking) person.

When carrying out psychocorrectional measures, the psychiatrist will work with the patient on the following tasks:

• bringing joy back to life;
• eliminating excessive suspicion;
• restoration of a healthy life position;
• accepting people around them as they are;
• the ability to find the positive even in stressful moments of life;
• inhibition of the patient’s development of a perverted perception of reality.

Physicians combine a psychotherapeutic course of therapy with the simultaneous administration of medications. For paranoia, a course of antipsychotics, tranquilizers and antidepressants is prescribed to relieve anxiety and stop attacks of delirium .

Methods for treating paranoia

Unfortunately, involutional forms of paranoid disorders are not amenable to even long-term treatment. They will continue to progress in an elderly person. Alcohol-related disorders are also difficult to treat.

Disease prognosis

In the vast majority of cases, the prognosis of paranoid disorder (especially with a long course of the disease) is unfavorable. Paranoia is a pathological, lifelong condition. During therapy, the patient's condition can improve significantly. Stabilization of the disorder lasts a long time, but the disease returns with age.

The results of therapy largely depend on the collaboration of the doctor, the patient and relatives. Independent work is also required, meeting the following conditions:

• proper, regular rest;
• constant physical activity;
• well-designed diet;
• avoiding stressful, exciting situations;
• giving up harmful addictions (alcohol, smoking).

Remember the main thing: a diagnosis of paranoia is not a death sentence. Modern medicine is developing rapidly, and new, effective drugs are being discovered. Incurable just a couple of decades ago, many mental disorders are now successfully treated. The moment is not far off when paranoia will become successfully treatable at any stage of the disease.