Paranoid disorder: What is the difference between normal skepticism and schizophrenia?

**Mind in the Fence of Doubt: A Psychological Look at Paranoid Disorder** Paranoid disorder or chronic suspicion is one of the types of personality disorders in which a person is constantly distrustful of the people around him; He has a negative and threatening view of the intentions and behaviors of others. Those with this disorder often feel threatened even in harmless situations and unconsciously view others as their enemy. Such a view may greatly affect one's relationships with family, friends, and colleagues; lead him to isolation, constant anxiety and loss of quality of life. In this situation, early referral to a psychiatrist can be an effective step in improving the mental condition and restoring peace to the person's life.

**What does paranoid disorder mean from a psychological point of view?** In the world of psychology, paranoid is a type of personality disorder in which a person is extremely distrustful of others and constantly feels threatened by others. This mistrust has no logical basis; But it is so strong that the person thinks that others are trying to hurt him, humiliate him or hurt him in some way. The remarkable thing is that people living with paranoid disorder usually see their behavior as normal and even defensive and rarely realize that their way of thinking can cause problems in their relationships. Behavioral characteristics and external signs of paranoid personality People with paranoid personality disorder usually see the world as a dangerous place; Where others are always lurking to hurt or deceive them. Without proof, they are pessimistic about their surroundings (even close friends) and their minds are constantly filled with doubt and suspicion. They interpret the behavior of others in a negative and threatening way. If someone unintentionally engages in a common behavior, it is considered offensive or hostile. Forgiving is not an easy task for them; They keep bitter memories and hold grudges against other people's past mistakes. These paranoid people get angry easily and react violently. Especially when they feel disrespected, even if it didn't actually happen. One of their worrying beliefs is doubting the fidelity of their spouse or partner, which they question for no reason. In addition, people with paranoid disorder may have other mental problems such as depression, fear of open spaces, obsessive-compulsive disorder or even drug and alcohol abuse. If there are diseases such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder along with this disorder, the accurate diagnosis of paranoid personality will be much more complicated. This disorder usually appears in adulthood; Because in childhood and adolescence, human mind and behavior are still changing and growing. Statistics show that men are affected by this disorder more than women. Symptoms peak in middle age (especially between 40 and 50 years of age), but they usually decrease in severity in old age. **Symptoms and diagnosis process of paranoid personality disorder** Paranoid people usually have a dry, serious and emotionless state when visiting a psychiatrist. They find it unpleasant to be forced to meet and are often defensive. They monitor the environment and show signs of muscle tension, difficulty relaxing, and complete distrust of the therapist. Although their words are not devoid of logic, their foundation may be based on false assumptions. **Risk factors and prognostic factors** ### **environmental factors** - Exposure to social stressors such as socio-economic inequality, marginalization and racism has a positive correlation with decreasing trust; Of course, reducing trust in some cases is an adaptive behavior. The combination of social stress and maltreatment in childhood plays a role in the high prevalence of paranoid symptoms in social groups that face racial discrimination. Both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies confirm that childhood trauma is a risk factor for paranoid personality disorder. ### **Genetic and physiological factors** - There is evidence of increased prevalence of paranoid personality disorder in relatives of people with schizophrenia. Also, some evidence shows that there is a more specific family relationship between persecutory attachment disorder and paranoid personality disorder. (American Psychological Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5-TR, Dr. Mehdi Ganji, Tehran, Savalan) **Differentiation of paranoid disorder from similar disorders** Paranoid disorder can be distinguished from delusional disorder by the absence of established delusional beliefs. Also, unlike schizophrenia, there are no hallucinations or severe mental disorders in paranoid disorder. Unlike borderline patients, these people do not enter into chaotic and tense relationships and do not have a criminal past such as antisocial disorder. Behaviorally, they may be similar to schizoid people, but they do not have a pessimistic view of others. To learn more about schizoid disorder, read the article about schizoid personality disorder. **What are the causes of paranoid disorder?** Both heredity and environment play a role in causing paranoid disorder. Those who work or live in stressful environments or stressful situations (such as immigrants, military, detectives, politicians or teachers) are more prone to this disorder than others. Of course, genetic factors can also be the cause, and stress can only play the role of a stimulus. **Treatment solutions for paranoid personality disorder** Paranoid personality disorder, like many other personality disorders, simply does not respond to treatment. The main reason for this is that personality structures in humans are very rooted and stable. Most people who suffer from paranoid disorder often do not consider themselves to have a problem or are not aware of it. However, in recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of support and treatment of these people. The main focus of these efforts has been on various psychotherapy approaches that are specifically designed for personality disorders. Approaches such as dynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioral therapy, as well as the new method of schema therapy are among the methods that have been used to help this group of patients. In our country, the implementation of these treatments is mostly the responsibility of clinical psychologists, although sometimes psychiatrists also help to reduce some annoying symptoms of this disorder by prescribing medicine. Our psychologists at Piriz Clinic will help you improve the treatment process with up-to-date and innovative methods such as schema therapy. **Summary** People with paranoid personality disorder usually experience constant tension and misunderstandings in social, work and family relationships. Excessive pessimism and negative interpretation of other people's intentions disturb their daily life, and in the absence of specialized intervention, these conditions can become more chronic. For effective treatment of this disorder, professional evaluation and follow-up is absolutely essential. With a team of experienced psychologists and psychiatrists, Pirouzi Psychology Clinic has provided a safe and scientific environment for the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. In this center, by taking advantage of new treatment approaches and continuous support, the recovery path becomes smoother for clients.

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