Paranoid personality disorder (ppd)

[Gregory]

Paranoid personality disorders is characterized by a pervasive pattern of unwarranted distrust and suspicion of others that involves interpreting their motives as malicious. Diagnosis is by clinical criteria. Treatment is with cognitive-behavioral therapy.
(See also Overview of Personality Disorders.)
Patients with paranoid personality disorder distrust others and assume that others intend to harm or deceive them, even when they have no or insufficient justification for these feelings.
From 2.3 to 4.4% of the general US population are estimated to have paranoid personality disorder. It is thought to be more common among men.
There is some evidence of increased prevalence in families. Some evidence suggests a link between this disorder and emotional and/or physical abuse and victimization during childhood.
Comorbidities are common. Paranoid personality disorder is rarely the sole diagnosis. Common comorbidities include thought disorders (eg, schizophrenia), anxiety disorders (eg, social phobia [social anxiety disorder]), posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorders, and another personality disorder (eg, borderline).