Paranoia- Symptoms & Treatment
Everyone is my enemy, they are plotting against me and planning to harm me. I tell everyone this, but no one believes me. I have lost trust in everybody because I’m convinced they are all enemies to me, whether they show it or not.
So, who am I?
I have paranoia, or the madness of suspicion and mistrust; this is what my psychiatrist says. It is a relatively rare disease, affecting about 0.5-4.5% of the population in the United States 1, 1.31% of which are women.³
This term has been used to describe manifestation of mental illness since the time of the ancient Greeks, through Hippocrates, up until the Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsus (1st century). In 1863, the term was included in modern psychiatry for the first time.⁴
It is a condition in which the patient feels constantly threatened, with a loss of trust in people and a persistent sense of suspicion towards them. For example, the patient may feel that he is being watched or that someone is planning to harm him, without any evidence to support this belief. It is important to note that this condition is associated with three main disorders, which are:
This type is considered the mildest among the three types and often begins in childhood or adolescence. Individuals with this disorder are characterized by oddness, suspicion, and a lack of trust in others without any logical evidence. It is observed that paranoid personality disorder is more common in men than in women.
It is a type of psychosis and is defined as a mental disorder in which the affected individual can‘t distinguish between reality and delusion.
One of its main characteristics is the strong conviction of the individual in a false belief. Examples include the patient being convinced that someone is spying on him or stalking him, even though there is no evidence to support this, or believing that he is suffering from a disease despite doctors denying it.
This is considered the most severe among these types. It is a serious mental disorder that results in hallucinations and delusions, especially bizarre ones, as well as disturbances in thinking and behavior, which affects daily functioning. Individuals with this type of schizophrenia require a lifetime treatment.
Some of the most prominent symptoms that individuals with paranoia and suspicion experience include:
There are many factors implicated in this condition, such as genetic factors, stress, and nervous tension, in addition to chemical transmitters in the brain. It is worth noting that both drug abuse and alcohol addiction makes individuals predisposed to this condition.
The diagnosis is made based on the individual’s medical history, physical examination, and assessment of symptoms, along with psychological testing. Specific tests are also conducted to rule out other mental disorders that may cause similar symptoms.
As with most mental illnesses, treatment involves a combination of medication using antipsychotic drugs, anti-anxiety medications, and antidepressants, along with cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy helps the affected individual cope, increase their self-confidence and trust in others, express their feelings positively, and develop their communication skills.
If you notice someone in your surroundings exhibiting such symptoms, try to calm them down, reassure them, and minimize their doubts. Do not hesitate to refer them to a specialist as soon as possible.²
Also read:
References: