What is Paranoid Personality Disorder? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

 Some people have got an odd way of thinking. Today, we’ll discuss what is paranoid personality disorder; its symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What is Paranoid Personality Disorder? 

PPD (paranoid personality disorder) falls under the category of eccentric personality disorder. People with PPD or “cluster A” personality disorder exhibit odd behaviors that are eccentric or unusual to others. The 5th edition of DSM (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder) has used the term “cluster A” for eccentric personality disorder and PPD.

People with PPD condition are highly suspicious of others, and it disturbs their routine life and activities. They don’t trust the motives and objectives of others, and they believe that others want to deceive and harm them. However, some of the main elements of this condition are as follows;

• Feelings of hostility and anger quickly towards others
• Finding threatening and the demeaning context in the most innocent event or comment
• Keeping drudges
• Not willing to confide in others

According to a literature review in 2017, PPD impacts roundabout 1.21 to 4.4% of the people across the globe. It’s difficult to treat people with PPD conditions because they’re high suspicious and don’t trust others.

If you have got a PPD condition, and you’re thinking about whether you can trust the therapist or not, and feel highly suspicious of the motives of others that are willing to help you. It’s completely normal feelings. The therapist would first establish trust with you so that you feel comfortable sharing things with him and following his advice.

Symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder 

People with PPD conditions don’t think that their behavior is odd or out of ordinary. It’s completely rational and logical for them not to trust others and be suspicious of them. Other people around them would feel that their distrust is unacceptable.

People with PPD condition behave and act in a stubborn and hostile way. When they’re being sarcastic, then it brings up a hostile response from others. It would affirm their suspicion when others give them hostile responses based on their sarcasm.

Other mental health conditions like anxiety or depression would amplify the symptoms of the PPD condition, but they also impact a person’s mood. The mood swings would make the person with PPD condition isolated and paranoid.

Some of the other symptoms of PPD conditions are as follows;

• Find it difficult to relax
• Troubling to see and understand why their behavior is causing concern for others
• Defensive and argumentative
• Socially isolated and becoming detached
• Becoming hostile and angry quickly
• Criticism makes them hypersensitive
• Find it difficult to work with others
• Suspicious of the loyalty of others
• Believing that others have bad hidden motives and they want to harm you

The symptoms of the PPD condition could overlap with the symptom of other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia.

Causes of Paranoid Personality Disorder 

Researchers don’t know the exact cause of the PPD condition. The combination of both environmental and biological factors plays its part in developing it. However, it commonly happens if a person has a family history of delusional disorder or schizophrenia. The other contributing factor is childhood traumatic experience. Some of the other contributing factors are as follows;

• Never marrying
• Being widowed
• Divorced or separated
• Lower-income household family

According to a study in 2017, the diagnosis of PPD condition is more common among Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and African Americans. Stress and trauma explain why it is higher among African Americans.

More research studies are required to explain why it is different in various groups. A study conducted in 2014 showed that there is little difference between white people and back people in terms of delusion and pathological paranoia symptoms. Black people are more likely to display the symptoms of nonpathological paranoia like limited trust.

Diagnosis of Paranoid Personality Disorder 

Your doctor would inquire about your medical history and symptoms in order to diagnose PPD. Your doctor would also conduct a thorough physical examination to rule out other medical symptoms and conditions. However, your primary healthcare provider would recommend you to a psychotherapist.

Your therapist would psychoanalyze you thoroughly in terms of asking your questions about relationships, work-life, school, and childhood. The psychotherapist would analyze your behavior that how you respond to the imaginary situation.

Treatment of Paranoid Personality Disorder 

You can treat PPD conditions successfully. The problem is that people with PPD conditions find it difficult to trust or accept the treatment plan. Psychotherapy could be an effective treatment if the person accepts and trust the treatment plan. The method would comprise of following;

• Decreasing the feelings of paranoia
• Learning how you would talk with others at the social events
• Finding healthier ways to deal with the symptoms

If you’re experiencing other conditions like depression and anxiety disorder along with PPD, then medication can be a very useful and effective plan. Some of the main medicines that your doctor would prescribe are as follows;

• Mood stabilizers
• Benzodiazepine
• Antidepressants

The treatment plan would become highly effective if you combine psychotherapy with medication.

Conclusion: What is Paranoid Personality Disorder? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment 

After an in-depth study of what is paranoid personality disorder; its symptoms, causes, and treatment; we have realized that PPD could negatively impact your life and relationships. If you’re experiencing its symptoms, then you should consult with the therapist and trust the treatment plan.