Paranoid personality disorder: description
Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by the fact that sufferers have no trust in other people. They constantly assume that others want to harm them, without having any evidence to support this.
For example, if a work colleague smiles at them in a friendly way, they feel laughed at. If their own partner is not at home, they are convinced that he is cheating. If people with paranoid personality disorder feel threatened, they become angry and counterattack. They are extremely persistent in their hostility and cannot be convinced that their suspicions are unfounded.
Because of their suspicious and hostile nature, people with paranoid personality disorder are disliked by others and often argue with those around them. Since they do not trust friends either, they have little social contact.
There are other personality disorders. What they all have in common is that individual personality traits are so extremely pronounced that they cause problems for the person affected or with his or her environment. The problematic personality traits are stable and long-lasting and can be traced back to adolescence or early adulthood.
Paranoid personality disorder: frequency
Paranoid personality disorder is considered a rare personality disorder. Experts estimate that between 0.4 and 2.5 percent of the general population suffers from it. – Men more often than women. The number of people actually affected is probably higher, because few seek professional help.
Personality disorders are basically characterized by thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviors that deviate significantly from what is socially accepted. They develop during adolescence or early adulthood and are permanent.
In addition to these general criteria of a personality disorder, a paranoid personality disorder according to the International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD-10) is present if at least four of the following symptoms apply:
Affected individuals:
- are overly sensitive to setbacks
- tend to hold permanent grudges; they do not forgive insults or disrespect
- are highly suspicious and distort facts, interpreting neutral or friendly actions of others as hostile or contemptuous
- are argumentative and insist on their right, even if it is unreasonable
- often lack confidence in their partner’s fidelity, even when there is no reason to do so
- Often engage in conspiracy thinking, which they use to explain events in their environment or in the world in general
Paranoid personality disorder: causes and risk factors
The exact causes of personality disorders have not yet been clarified – this also applies to paranoid personality disorder. Experts assume that various influences are involved in the development of the disorder. On the one hand, genetic predisposition plays a role; on the other hand, upbringing and other environmental influences also contribute to the development of a (paranoid) personality disorder.
These include stressful events in particular – they generally prepare the ground for the development of mental disorders. Thus, people with a paranoid personality disorder also often report traumatic experiences in childhood, for example physical or emotional abuse.
A person’s temperament also plays a role in the development of paranoid personality disorder. Children who have a fundamentally high tendency to be aggressive are particularly at risk.
Paranoid personality disorder: examinations and diagnosis
People with paranoid personality disorder rarely seek professional help. For one thing, they do not perceive their perceptions and behavior as disturbed, and for another, they do not trust psychologists or doctors. When they do seek treatment, it is often for additional mental disorders such as depression.
Medical history
To diagnose paranoid personality disorder, several discussions take place between psychiatrist/therapist and patient (anamnesis). During this process, the professional may ask questions such as:
- Do you often suspect a hidden meaning behind what others say or do?
- A person’s temperament also plays a role in the development of paranoid personality disorder. Children who have a fundamentally high tendency to be aggressive are particularly at risk.
Paranoid personality disorder: examinations and diagnosis
People with paranoid personality disorder rarely seek professional help. For one thing, they do not perceive their perceptions and behavior as disturbed, and for another, they do not trust psychologists or doctors. When they do seek treatment, it is often for additional mental disorders such as depression.
Medical history
To diagnose paranoid personality disorder, several discussions take place between psychiatrist/therapist and patient (anamnesis). During this process, the professional may ask questions such as:
Do you often suspect a hidden meaning behind what others say or do?
Cognitive behavioral therapy
There are various approaches to treating paranoid personality disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to change unfavorable ways of thinking or thought patterns. The goal is for the person affected to question his or her distrust of other people and to learn social ways of dealing with others. This is because many affected people suffer from isolation, which is a consequence of their behavior. Training in social skills is therefore an important part of therapy. In order to control the aggressive impulses, the therapist works out new strategies with the patient.
Focal therapy
Paranoid personality disorder: relatives
People with paranoid personality disorder have great difficulty with interpersonal relationships. They constantly expect to be betrayed and hurt by others. Because of this belief, they create a hostile climate.
For the relatives, the permanent distrust is a heavy burden. They often feel helpless because they cannot influence the behavior of the person affected. What you can do as a relative, however, is:
- Make yourself aware that the inappropriate behavior of the affected person is rooted in his personality disorder.
- Try not to take attacks personally.
- Get professional help. Even if the sufferer himself refuses therapy, a therapist or counseling center can offer you support.
Paranoid personality disorder: course of the disease and prognosis
However, therapy can help to positively influence unfavorable behavior patterns. However, the probability of a favorable outcome is rather low. On the one hand, those affected rarely seek therapeutic treatment, and on the other hand, they have difficulty engaging in the therapy process. However, the earlier paranoid personality disorder is detected and treated, the better the prognosis.
