What Is Paranoia Modified

Presentation by :
Sourish Surya
XI - B
WHAT IS PARANOIA?
A TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN WHICH YOU WRONGLY

BELIEVE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO HARM YOU.
THIS UNFOUNDED MISTRUST OF OTHERS CAN MAKE IT

DIFFICULT FOR A PERSON WITH PARANOIA TO FUNCTION
SOCIALLY OR HAVE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
Origin of Paranoia
Emil Kraepelin 1905 described it as someone sensitive, irritable,

stubborn, and who lives in conflict with the outside world. He termed
the disorder paranoid personality in 1921 and defined the affected
individuals as suspicious, believing they had been unfairly treated.
Kraepelin also observed that individuals with paranoid personalities
frequently went on to acquire paranoid psychosis.
Symptoms of Paranoia
Paranoia symptoms may range from mild to severe. They depend on the cause but, generally, a
person who is paranoid may:
• Be easily offended
• Find it difficult to trust others
• Not cope with any type of criticism
• Assign harmful meanings to other people’s suggestions
• Be hostile, aggressive, and argumentative
• Not be able to compromise
• Find it difficult, if not impossible, to ‘forgive and forget
• Assume that people are talking ill of them behind their back
• Be overly suspicious – for example, think that other people are lying or trying to cheat them
• Consider the world to be a place of constant threat
Types of Paranoia
• Paranoid personality disorder – considered the mildest type. Most people with paranoid
personality disorder function well despite their mistrust of the world. The attitudes and
behaviors associated with this disorder, when they become obvious, are often discovered
to have been present for much of the person’s life.
• Delusional (paranoid) disorder – characterized by the dominance of one’s delusion (false
belief) without any other sign of mental illness. The person’s behavior depends on which
delusion they have. For example, a person who has a delusion of persecution believes
that other people are spying on them or plotting to harm them in some way. Stalking
can be the result of delusional (paranoid) disorder – for example, the person believes
they are in a relationship with a movie star they have never met. In another case, a
person may imagine they have a terrible illness, despite repeated reassurance from
doctors.
Causes are unclear
 The causes of paranoia are unclear and depend on the condition with which it is
associated. Theories include:
• Genes – research is scanty or limited. Some studies suggest a genetic link while
others don’t. It is also unclear whether genetic predisposition to paranoia – if it
exists – is inherited or not.
• Traumatic life events – for example, abuse in childhood may distort the way a
person thinks and feels throughout life.
• Stress reaction – some studies have found that paranoia is more common in
people who have experienced severe and ongoing stress – for example, prisoners
of war. How stress can trigger paranoia is unclear.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Another difficulty is that a person with paranoia may avoid doctors, hospitals, and
other medical settings for fear of harm.
 Diagnosis may include:
• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Assessment of symptoms
• Psychological tests
• Tests to rule out other psychiatric disorders that may be causing the symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment
 While there is no absolute cure for the conditions that cause paranoia, treatment can help
the person cope with their symptoms and live a happier, more productive life.
Treatments may include:
• Medications – Anti-anxiety or antipsychotic drugs can ease some symptoms. However, a
person with paranoia may refuse to take medication because they fear it will harm them.
• Therapy – this can help the person to cope with their symptoms and may improve their
ability to function. However, a person with paranoia is unlikely to talk openly and freely to
a therapist, so progress can be extremely slow.
• Hospital admission – in severe cases, the person may need to stay in hospital until the
condition causing paranoia stabilizes.
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A TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN WHICH YOU WRONGLY

THIS UNFOUNDED MISTRUST OF OTHERS CAN MAKE IT

Emil Kraepelin 1905 described it as someone sensitive, irritable,

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