Paranoid personality disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Description

People with personality disorders perceive the world distorted. Accordingly, they behave differently than healthy people. For example, people with a paranoid personality disorder have no confidence in other people. They constantly assume that others want to harm them without having any evidence.

If she smiles pleasantly at a colleague, they feel laughed at, and when the partner is away from home, they are convinced that he is a stranger. If they feel threatened, they become angry and start a counter-attack. In their hostility they are extremely persistent and can not be convinced that their suspicions are unfounded.

Typical of the paranoid personality disorder is that those affected respond to criticism hypersensitive and always make other people responsible for failures in their lives. In school, it is the teacher, who is to blame for the bad grades, in the professional life, the boss, if something does not go as expected. Because of their suspicious and hostile nature, they are unpopular with others and often quarrel with their fellow human beings. Since they do not trust friends, they hardly have social contacts.

How many people are affected by paranoid personality disorder?

Paranoid personality disorder is considered a rare personality disorder. Experts estimate that between 0.4 and 2.5 percent of the general population suffer from a paranoid personality disorder. The number of actual sufferers is probably higher, because only a few affected seek professional help. There are more men affected than women.

Paranoid personality disorder: symptoms

Personality disorders are characterized basically by the fact that the thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviors deviate significantly from what is socially accepted. Personality disorders develop in children or adolescents and persist even in adulthood.

In addition to these general criteria of personality disorder, a paranoid personality disorder is the International Classification of Psychiatric Disorders (ICD-10) if at least four of the following symptoms are true:

The affected:

• react excessively sensitive to setbacks
• tend to be permanently resentful; they do not forgive insults or disrespect
• they are very suspicious and misrepresent facts by interpreting neutral or friendly actions of others as hostile or contemptible
• are contentious and insist on their rights, even if they are inappropriate
• They have often and no faith in the loyalty of their partner, even if there is no reason for it
• are very self-centered and overbearing
• They often engage in conspiracy 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 are not yet clear – this also applies to the paranoid personality disorder. Experts believe that it develops due to various influences. On the one hand the genetic predisposition plays a role, on the other hand the education and other environmental influences contribute to the emergence.

In particular, stressful events prepare the ground for the development of mental disorders. Even people with a paranoid personality disorder often report traumatic childhood experiences, such as physical or emotional abuse.

Experts believe that children who receive little affection and love become frustrated and, as a result, develop aggression. Their own aggression then projects them onto other people, and then they are suspicious of them. Because they expect to have only bad experiences with other people, they behave aggressively. This behavior, in turn, creates conflicts that make them feel affirmed by others in their bad opinions. The result is a vicious circle that can hardly be broken.

Also, the temperament of a person plays a role in the development of paranoid personality disorders. Children who have a high tendency to aggressiveness are particularly at risk.

Paranoid personality disorder: examinations and diagnosis

For the diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder, several conversations take place between psychiatrist or therapist and the person concerned. To rule out the possibility of organic problems or drug abuse causing the symptoms, the doctor also performs some physical examinations. He usually creates a blood count. It may also be possible to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create images of the brain that reveal possible damage in the brain.

Paranoid personality disorder: test

On the Internet, many self-tests for paranoid personality disorder can be found. These can provide a rough assessment to those affected, but do not replace the diagnosis of a therapist or psychiatrist.

To diagnose paranoid personality disorder, personality questionnaires such as the Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI) and structured clinical interviews are often used to diagnose the disorder.

To diagnose the paranoid personality disorder, the therapist might ask the following questions:

• Do you often assume a hidden meaning behind what others say or do?
• Do you often feel that other people want to harm you?
• Do you often think your partner is cheating on you?

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Treatment

People with a paranoid personality disorder rarely seek psychological help. On the one hand, they do not perceive their perception and behavior as disturbed, and on the other, they do not trust psychologists and doctors either. When they seek treatment, it is often due to additional mental disorders, such as depression.

The paranoid personality disorder is difficult to treat, since those affected are hardly able to entrust themselves to other people. For a successful treatment, however, it is necessary for the patient to get involved with the therapist.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

There are different approaches to treating a paranoid personality disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to change unfavorable ways of thinking or thinking patterns. The goal of the therapy is that the person concerned questions his distrust of other people and learns social ways of dealing with other people. Because many sufferers suffer from the isolation that is a consequence of their behavior.

The contact with other people, for example with friends, contributes to a higher quality of life. The training of social skills is therefore an important part of the therapy dar. To master the aggressive impulses, the therapist develops new strategies with the patient.

focal therapy

In the psychoanalytically oriented focal therapy, the therapist shows the patient his destructive behavior. Usually patients distrust the therapist and withdraw or react aggressively to the therapist. Based on the interaction between the therapist and the patient, the therapist can visualize how mistrust creates problems with other people.

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Relatives

People with a paranoid personality disorder have great difficulties with interpersonal relationships. They constantly expect to be betrayed and hurt by others. Through this conviction they create a hostile climate. For the relatives the permanent mistrust is a heavy burden. They often feel helpless because they can not influence the person’s behavior.

What you as a relative can do:

Be aware that your loved one’s inappropriate behavior is due to his personality disorder. Try not to take attacks personally. Get advice from a therapist. Even if the person refuses therapy, the therapist or counseling center can provide assistance.

Paranoid personality disorder: disease course and prognosis

As with all personality disorders, the paranoid personality disorder begins in childhood or adolescence and is chronic. Unlike other mental disorders, personality disorders can not be cured because the disorder is deeply rooted in the person.

However, the therapy can help to influence unfavorable behavior patterns positively. The probability of a favorable course, however, is rather low. On the one hand, those affected rarely go into therapeutic treatment, on the other hand, they have difficulties to get involved in the therapy process. The sooner the paranoid personality disorder however, is discovered and treated, the better the prognosis.