Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental condition marked by a pattern of distrust and suspicion of others without adequate reason to be suspicious. People with PPD are always on guard, believing that others are constantly trying to demean, harm or threaten them. People with paranoid personality disorder often don't think their behavior and way of thinking are problematic.
PPD is one of a group of conditions called Cluster A, or eccentric personality disorders. People with these disorders have unusual and eccentric thinking or behavior. It's important to note that people with paranoid personality disorder don't experience delusions or hallucinations with paranoia. People with paranoid personality disorder typically start experiencing symptoms and showing signs of the condition by their late teens or early adult years. Overall, research reveals higher rates of paranoid personality disorder (PPD) in people assigned female at birth (AFAB), while samples from hospital records reveal higher rates of PPD in people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
Paranoid personality disorder is relatively rare. Researchers estimate that it affects 0.5% to 4.5% of the general U.S. population.
People with PPD may:
•Doubt the commitment, loyalty or trustworthiness of others, believing others are exploiting or deceiving them.
•Be reluctant to confide in others or reveal personal information because they're afraid the information will be used against them.
•Be unforgiving and hold grudges.
•Be hypersensitive and take criticism poorly.
•Read hidden meanings in the innocent remarks or casual looks of others.
•Perceive attacks on their character that aren't apparent to others.
•Have persistent suspicions, without justified reason, that their spouses or romantic partners are being unfaithful.
•Be cold and distant in their relationships with others and might become controlling and jealous to avoid being betrayed.
•Not see their role in problems or conflicts, believing they're always right.
•Have difficulty relaxing.
•Be hostile, stubborn and argumentative.
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Scientists don't know the exact cause of paranoid personality disorder, but it likely involves a combination of environmental and biological factors. Researchers have found that childhood emotional neglect, physical neglect and supervision neglect play a significant role in the development of PPD in adolescence and early adulthood. Researchers used to think there was likely a genetic link among schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorder and PPD, but more studies have revealed that this connection isn't as strong as they once thought.
