A 49-year-old member asked:
Is paranoid personality disorder a true mental illness?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Pamela Pappasanswered
Psychiatry 42 years experience
Yes, it is: Yes, paranoid personality disorder is a real mental illness. In it, there's a fixed, pervasive, and relatively inflexible pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such that others' motives are interpreted as malevolent. It generally begins in teen years or early adulthood, and differs markedly from one's culture. It causes distress in important areas of functioning, like relationships or work.
5.2k viewsReviewed Sep 29, 2020
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Similar questions
A 45-year-old member asked:
What is paranoid personality disorder like?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Douglas Laippleanswered
Psychiatry 44 years experience
Suspiciousness.: Excessive sensitivity
tendency to bear persistent grudges persistently and injuries or slights
suspiciousness and a pervasive tendency to misconstrue the actions of others as hostile or contemptuous
a combative and tenacious unreasonable sense of personal rights
recurrent suspicions of sexual infidelity
tendency to experience excessive self-importance
preoccupation with conspiracies.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Tell me about "paranoid personality disorder"?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Alianswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Paranoid: Is one of cluster a personality disorders, classified along with schizoid & schizotypal personality disorders. It is a pervasive global mistrust of others & preoccupation with hidden motives & suspiciousness, severe enough to interfere with daily functioning.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
What causes paranoid personality disorder?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lawrence Smithanswered
Clinical Psychology 30 years experience
We don't know: Paranoid personality disorder is a psychiatric condition in which a person has a long-term distrust and suspicion of others, but does not have a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia. The cause of the disorder is unknown. However, it is more common in families with members who have psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia or delusional disorder.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What are some triggers of paranoid personality disorder?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marlene Eisenanswered
Clinical Psychology 44 years experience
Old stories: We evolve our personas from the stories we tell ourselves, made up of memories, the way others treat us, traumas. These serve as cues to our present responses. Paranoia is a strong, fear response based on the meaning of the partiular experience. If you were attacked by a dog as a child, you might forever be fearful of a large animal. A more vulnerable persona is predisposed to respond this way.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
How to know if I have paranoid personality disorder?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Barbara Lavianswered
Clinical Psychology 35 years experience
It is hard: Personality disorders are difficult to live with and hard to treat. Usually if u have a personality disorder u do not realize that u have a problem, people close to u do. If u have been told u have one and are asking for help that is a major step. Follow through and speak to a therapist. They will start with what's bothering u, which is your healthier side and move on from there. It will take time
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Sep 29, 2020
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