Paranoid Personality
Disorder
By: Bianca Jimenez
Period: 5
Psychology
Definition
 A personality disorder whose outstanding feature is that
the individual is extremely suspicious of others and is
always on guard against potential danger or harm.
 Its also know to be a Schizotypal disorder
Associated Features
 They are extremely suspicious of others.
 It’s hard for them to trust their friends or associates.
 They would accuse a spouse or partner of being
unfaithful, even if it’s not true.
 They are unable to take responsibility for their
mistakes, so they blame others.
Cont. Associated Features
 If they are criticize by others, they become hostile.
 They have the Tendency to bear grudges.
 Perception of personal attacks that are not apparent to
others and tendency to respond with angry
counterattacks.
 Reluctance to confide in others, for the fear that the
information will be used against them.
DSM-IV-TR
 A. A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others
such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent,
beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of
contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the
following:
 (1) suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are
exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her.
 (2) Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the
loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates.
Cont.…
 (3)Is reluctant to confide in others because of
unwarranted fear that the information will be used
maliciously against him or her.
 (4)Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings
into benign remarks or events.
 (5)Persistently bears grudges, I.e., is unforgiving of
insults, injuries, or slights.
Cont.
 (6)Perceives attacks on his or her character or
reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick
to react angrily or to counterattack.
 (7)Has recurrent suspicions, without justification,
regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.
 (B)Does not occur exclusively during the course of
Schizophrenia, a mood disorder with psychotic
features, or another Psychotic Disorder and is not due
to the direct physiological effects of a general medical
condition.
Etiology
 There is an unknown cause for Paranoid Personality
Disorder.
 Some causes for this disorder are physical and
emotional trauma from childhood experiences.
 Also prompted by extreme and unfounded parental
rage.
 Or even sometimes condescending parental influence
that cultivate profound the child’s insecurities.
 Usually begins in early adulthood.
Cont.
 If a person has Paranoid Personality Disorder. It’s a
slight increase risk that the disorder could be passed
down to their children.
 People with Paranoid Personality Disorder are more
likely to have family members with Schizophrenia.
Prevalence
 Is more prevalent in males than females.
 Occurs somewhere between 0.5 and 2.5 percent in the
general population.
Treatment
 People who are diagnosed with PPD refuse to seek
professional help.
 Because they do not acknowledge the nature of their
problem.
 If they do decide to seek therapy, their rigidity and
defensiveness make it really difficult for a clinician to
make inroads and work toward any kind of lasting
change.
Treatment
 Cognitive-Behavioral :
 It involves countering the client’s mistaken assumptions
in an atmosphere aimed at establishing a sense of
trust. The therapist attempts to increase the client’s
feelings of self-efficacy, so that the client feels able to
handle situations without resorting to a defensive and
vigilant stance.
Prognosis
 The outlook usually depends if the person is willing to
accept help. Therapy and medications can reduce
paranoia and limits impact on the person’s daily
functioning.
 Extreme social isolation
 Interference with work.
Discussion Question
 Anita is a computer programmer who constantly worries that other
people will exploit her knowledge . She regards as “Top Secret”
the new database management program she is writing. She even
fears that, when she leaves the office at night, someone will sneak
into her desk and steal her notes. Her distrust of others pervades
all her interpersonal dealings. Her suspicions that she is being
cheated even taint routine transactions in banks and stores. Anita
like to think of herself as rational and able to make objective
decisions; she regards her inability to trust other people as a
natural reaction to a world filled with opportunistic and insincere
corporate ladder climbers.
Discussion Question
 How does Anita’s sense of mistrust impair her
relationships with others?
 What would lead you to think that Anita has a Paranoid
Personality Disorder, rather than a form of psychosis
involving paranoid symptoms?