Paranoid Personality Disorder

The “paranoid” in
Paranoid Personality
Disorder doesn’t generally
refer to a person with
delusions or psychosis, but
rather to someone who is
constantly suspicious and
distrustful of others.
What is Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Paranoid personality Disorder (PPD) is a type of

psychological personality disorder characterized
by an extreme level of distrust and suspicion of
others.

Paranoid personalities are generally difficult to

get along with, and their combative and distrustful
nature often elicits hostility in others.

Needless to say, those with PPD are unlikely to form

many close relationships and are typically perceived as
cold and distant. They are quick to challenge the loyalty
of friends and loved ones and tend to carry long grudges
(Dobbert 2007, Kantor 2004).
Course of Paranoid Disorder
 PPD often first becomes apparent in early
adulthood.

 Paranoid Personality Disorder has been

estimated to be as high as 4.5% of the general
population and occurs more commonly in males
(NESARC 2002).

 a threatening domestic atmosphere experienced

during childhood
 Hypothetical profile  High Neuroticism
in terms of Five-  High Extraversion
Factor Model for PPD  High Openness
 High Agreeableness
 Low
Conscientiousness
DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders)

 unfounded suspicion that others are

exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or
her
 preoccupation with unjustified doubts
about the loyalty of friends or associates
 reluctance to confide in others because of
unwarranted fear that the information will
be used against him or her

 finds hidden demeaning or threatening

meanings in benign remarks or events

 persistently bears grudges and is unforgiving

 frequently perceives attacks on his or her
character and is quick to react angrily or to
counterattack

 unjustified suspicions regarding fidelity of

spouse or sexual partner
 Childhood which  Inadequacy
fosters feelings of  humiliation or
 Helplessness
 Threatening home
environment.
 Irrational and
overwhelming
parental rage

(Gunderson & Philips, pg. 1435).

PPD is a
 typological representation of bad character,
of a vicious disposition formed by habitual
passion
 type of "solution" to the problem of anxiety;
that is, it is a strategy to alleviate anxiety.
 autonomy  being controlled
 trustworthiness of others  subordination
 loyalty
 fidelity
 deviousness
 to know the hidden motives of others  deception
 the appearance of righteousness  treachery
 secrecy  closeness
 privacy
 a double life
 being covertly manipulated
 vigilance
 interference of others
 wariness  being put down
 suspicion  being discriminated against
 adversaries, enemies, grudges
 secret coalitions formed by others
 guiltlessness
 shamelessness
 being undermined or depreciated by others
 authority  humiliation
 superiority  being abused or being taken advantage of
 self-sufficiency
 being demeaned
 independence
 control
 authority/authority figures
 perfection  those he or she sees as weak, soft, sickly or
 withdrawal defective
 self-criticism  inferiority
 being special  making mistakes
 isolation
 being different from others

False Goods False Bads

 I cannot trust other  If people act friendly,
people. they may be trying to
use or exploit me.
 Other people have
hidden motives.  People will take
advantage of me if I
give them the chance.
 Others will try to use
me or manipulate me
if I don't watch out.  For the most part,
other people are
 I have to be on guard unfriendly.
at all times.
 Other people will
 t isn't safe to confide deliberately try to
in other people. demean me.
 Often people  People often say one
deliberately want to thing and mean
annoy me. something else.

 I will be in serious  A person whom I am

trouble if I let other close to could be
people think they can disloyal or unfaithful.
get away with
mistreating me.

 If other people find

out things about me,
they will use them
against me.
 Psychotherapy and PPD  Medications and PPD