Introduction:
A personality disorder is a mental disorder that has rigid and unhealthy thinking, functioning, and behaving. Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental health condition that is characterized by odd or eccentric thinking. These generally have distrust and suspicion about others without any reason. It is seen among males more than females. It usually occurs in early adulthood. These individuals are always in a state where others will harm, demean, or threaten them.
What Is a Paranoid Personality Disorder?
A paranoid personality disorder is a mental health condition that shows paranoia. Paranoia is a condition in which individuals distrust and are suspicious of others without absolute reason. These individuals do not think that their behavior and thinkings are problematic. These do not show any delusions or hallucinations with paranoia like other disorders like schizophrenia (a psychiatric disease characterized by recurrent or persistent episodes of psychosis) and bipolar disorders. These start showing symptoms at the age of late teens or early adulthood. The prevalence of PPD is 1.21 percent to 4.4 percent.
Individuals affected more by PPD are
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Who dwell in low-income families.
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Being black, native American, or Hispanic.
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Widowed, divorced, separated, or never married.
What Are the Causes of Paranoid Personality Disorder?
The exact cause of PPD is not known. Biological and environmental factors may be responsible for PPD. Other causes include
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Emotional neglect during childhood.
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Physical neglect during early adolescence.
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Supervision neglect in adulthood.
Most common in families affected by psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and delusional disorder. Previously researchers thought there might be a genetic link to PPD, but recent studies have shown that there is no strong connection between genetic link and PPD.
What Are the Symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder?
Individuals affected with PPD generally have distrust and are suspicious about others. These characters interfere to form close relationships, and hence they limit their social lives.
Symptoms of PPD are
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They doubt the commitments, loyalty, and trustworthiness of others, thinking that they may harm or exploit them.
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They are hesitant to share their personal information, feeling that they may use the information against them in the future.
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They hold grudges for long periods of time and do not forgive easily.
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They will be very sensitive and take criticism very seriously.
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They try to read hidden messages in the innocence and causal looks of others.
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They think others are attacking their characters which are not visible to others.
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They will have suspicious of their spouse or partner for being unfaithful without reason.
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They will be cold and distant from others and may become jealous and avoid being betrayed.
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They feel they are always right and do not see their part in problems or conflicts.
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They cannot relax easily.
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They show their dislike, arguments, and stubbornness.
How to Diagnose Paranoid Personality Disorder?
Individuals with PPD do not think that they have problems, and hence it is difficult to diagnose personality disorders. Till the age of 18, it is not diagnosed. Individuals generally seek help for anxiety or depression due to other problems. Healthcare professionals, when suspect PPD, ask about
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The history.
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The relationships.
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Previous history related to work.
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Reality testing.
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Impulse control.
Mental health providers use criteria of the condition set by a standard association for diagnosis.
What Are Other Disorders That Are Associated With a Paranoid Personality Disorder?
The personality disorders that are closely related to PPD are
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Avoidant personality disorder.
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Substance use disorder.
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Panic disorder.
What Is the Treatment for a Paranoid Personality Disorder?
Individuals with PPD do not seek treatment on their own. They are generally referred by family members, coworkers, or employers. The treatment of choice in such cases is psychotherapy ( talk therapy) like
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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
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Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
This type of therapy focuses on increasing skills in coping, like trust and empathy. It improves self-esteem, social interaction, and communication skills. Treatment is challenging to health care professionals as it depends on trust and rapport building. They may be questioned by the individuals who are under treatment, and they may discontinue the treatment also.
No medications are given for such conditions unless the condition is severe or associated with other conditions like anxiety or depression. In such cases, antianxiety and antidepressants are prescribed.
Ways to deal with individuals with PPD are
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Arguments should not be made.
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Directions that are simple to be followed if needed.
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By giving personal space to the individual so that the person does not feel trapped or surrounded.
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Seek help if anyone is in danger.
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Try moving away from the cause of the problem if possible.
There is no cure for this condition, but it can be improved by professional treatment.
How to Prevent Paranoid Personality Disorder?
Paranoid personality disorder cannot be prevented. The treatment may help cope with the condition and deal with it by learning techniques to avoid thoughts and situations that may trigger PPD.
What Is the Prognosis of Paranoid Personality Disorder?
The prognosis of PPD depends on whether the individual with PPD is willing to treatment and commits to the treatment. Talk therapy reduces paranoia and limits its impact on daily functioning.
If this condition is not treated, it may become difficult to form and maintain a relationship to handle work situations and social interactions may be hampered.
Individuals with PPD used to stop working much earlier than others. Individuals with PPD show aggressive behavior in the hospital setting. PPD is generally related to repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, etc., directed at a particular person and more of litigation.
Conclusion:
A paranoid personality disorder is a mental health condition, characterized by eccentric thinking. If left untreated, the individual’s life will be disrupted, and family members will also suffer from stress, depression, grief, and isolation. Hence it becomes important to know about the condition, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Knowing about the condition helps to seek advice from a healthcare professional early. Early diagnosis helps achieve effective treatment. This, in turn, help achieve a good quality of life.
