Tag Archives: paranoid personality disorder

Paranoid, Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders

Introduction – Personality Disorders Part 2

Cluster A

First of all, what do you really know about paranoid and other personality disorders? Maybe you are reading this because you may be wondering if these disorders are applicable to someone you know. Another good read would be to gain perspective on your own habit. Whereas it’s important to get friends and family to help if needed, resist the urge to practice armchair psychology. Although the idea of a personality disorder is something that may lead to playful banter, these issues can be quite serious.

In this post, we discuss the group of disorders that involves especially odd thinking or behavior. As a group, these are known as Cluster A personality disorders. Although there are three disorders in this group (paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal), we’ll focus on paranoid personality disorder.

Another important consideration is that those with personality disorders do not necessarily have psychosis. As is the case with all personality disorders, a single cause is unknown. There is a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers that appear to play roles.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Individuals with paranoid personality disorder (PPD) have a long history of distrust and suspicion. Consequently, this often leads to social isolation and poor functioning. Even more, PPD often results in compromised school, work and personal relationships. It is more common in men and families with psychotic disorders.

Symptoms may include the following:

  • Constant feeling of being in danger
  • Unjustified belief that others have hidden motives and are trying to harm, deceive or exploit
  • Unjustified suspicion of the loyalty or trustworthiness of others
  • Hesitance to confide in others due to unreasonable fear that others will use the information against you
  • Perception of innocent remarks or unthreatening situations as personal insults or attacks
  • Angry or hostile reaction to perceived slights or insults, with a tendency to hold grudges
  • Unjustified, recurrent suspicion that spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful
  • Inability to work together with others
  • Detachment and social isolation
  • Lack of insight that feelings are unjustified

Furthermore, treatment is difficult because people with this condition are often very suspicious of doctors. Fortunately, medications and behavioral (talk) therapy can often be effective. This type of therapy is effective at reducing paranoia and limiting the impact on the person’s daily functioning.

The other two disorders in Cluster A are schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders. Causes and treatments are similar to those in PPD, but here are some of the defining symptoms of each.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

schizoid

Think of an excessively flat personality

  • Appearance of indifference to others
  • Inability to take pleasure in activities or accomplishments
  • Inability to pick up on social cues
  • Little emotional expression
  • Little interest in sex or interpersonal relationships

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

schizotypal

Think of abnormal thoughts and activities

  • Belief that incidents or events have hidden messages meant specifically for you
  • Belief that you can influence people and events with your thoughts (aka magical thinking)
  • Inappropriately indifferent responses to others
  • Inappropriate or flat emotions
  • Lack of comfort with close relationships, even with family
  • Odd perceptual experiences, such as hearing a voice say your name
  • Social anxiety

Above all, it’s not enough to have some symptoms. A level of social dysfunction is necessary to establish a diagnosis.

Click here for an introduction to personality disorders.

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Straight, No Chaser: Paranoid, Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders

Cluster A

I’d imagine that if you’re reading this, it’s not necessarily because the topic is interesting but because you may be wondering if these are applicable to someone you know. Whereas it’s important to get friends and family to help if needed, do resist the urge to practice armchair psychology. Although the idea of a personality disorder is something that may lead to playful banter, they can be quite serious. In this Straight, No Chaser, we discuss the disorders that involve odd, eccentric thinking or behavior: paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders, with a particular focus on paranoid personality disorder. Collectively, they are known as Cluster A personality disorders. It is important to note that those with personality disorders do not have psychosis. As is the case throughout personality disorders, a single cause is unknown, but a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers appears to play roles.
parano4
Paranoid personality disorder is more common in men and families with psychotic disorders. As you might suspect, these individuals have a long history of distrust and suspicion, which can lead to social isolation and poor functioning. Relationships, school, work and other activities may be compromised. Other symptoms may include the following:

  • Constant feeling of being in danger
  • Unjustified belief that others have hidden motives and are trying to harm, deceive or exploit
  • Unjustified suspicion of the loyalty or trustworthiness of others
  • Hesitant to confide in others due to unreasonable fear that others will use the information against you
  • Perception of innocent remarks or unthreatening situations as personal insults or attacks
  • Angry or hostile reaction to perceived slights or insults, with a tendency to hold grudges
  • Unjustified, recurrent suspicion that spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful
  • Inability to work together with others
  • Detachment and social isolation
  • Lack of insight that feelings are unjustified

Treatment is difficult because people with this condition are often very suspicious of doctors. Medications and behavioral (talk) therapy can often be effective; reducing paranoia and limiting its impact on the person’s daily functioning.
The other disorders in Cluster A are schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders. Other considerations (causes, treatments) are similar, but here are some of the defining symptoms of each.
schizoid
Schizoid personality disorder: Think of an excessively flat personality

  • Appearance of indifference to others
  • Inability to take pleasure in activities or accomplishments
  • Inability to pick up on social cues
  • Little emotional expression
  • Little interest in sex or interpersonal relationships

 schizotypal
Schizotypal personality disorder – Think of abnormal thoughts and activities

  • Belief that incidents or events have hidden messages meant specifically for you
  • Belief that you can influence people and events with your thoughts (aka magical thinking)
  • Inappropriately indifferent responses to others
  • Inappropriate or flat emotions
  • Lack of comfort with close relationships
  • Odd perceptual experiences (e.g. hearing a voice say your name)
  • Social anxiety

Remember, it’s not enough to have some symptoms. A level of social dysfunction is necessary to establish a diagnosis.
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Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

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Straight, No Chaser: Personality Disorder Screening Quiz – Now It's Your Turn!

personality-disorder-types

It’s been an interesting week of responses from you on the series of personality disorders. The most common comment was a request for an ability to test oneself. I’ll provide that information to you, but beforehand, here are the links to the other Straight No Chaser posts on personality disorders.

  • Introduction: Understanding Personality Disorders
  • Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders
  • Cluster B: Narcissistic, Histrionic, Antisocial and Borderline Personality Disorders
  • Cluster C: Obsessive-Compulsive, Avoidant and Dependent Personality Disorders

We need a disclaimer here. The link to this personality quiz states pretty clearly that it’s for entertainment purposes only. The results will provide you with a trend, not a diagnosis. It’s a good way to reinforce the information from the previous posts and to learn a little bit more about yourself. In case you were wondering, I scored Doctor Personality Disorder.

ilovemyself

Here’s the link to the quiz:

http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-personality-disorder-test-5

I welcome any feedback or questions you have about the topic or the quiz. I think it’s safe to say that most of you should have fun with this quiz.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Straight, No Chaser: Paranoid, Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders

Cluster A

I’d imagine that if you’re reading this, it’s not necessarily because the topic is interesting but because you may be wondering if these are applicable to someone you know. Whereas it’s important to get friends and family to help if needed, do resist the urge to practice armchair psychology. Although the idea of a personality disorder is something that may lead to playful banter, they can be quite serious. In this Straight, No Chaser, we discuss the disorders that involve odd, eccentric thinking or behavior: paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders, with a particular focus on paranoid personality disorder. Collectively, they are known as Cluster A personality disorders. It is important to note that those with personality disorders do not have psychosis. As is the case throughout personality disorders, a single cause is unknown, but a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers appears to play roles.

parano4

Paranoid personality disorder is more common in men and families with psychotic disorders. As you might suspect, these individuals have a long history of distrust and suspicion, which can lead to social isolation and poor functioning. Relationships, school, work and other activities may be compromised. Other symptoms may include the following:

  • Constant feeling of being in danger
  • Unjustified belief that others have hidden motives and are trying to harm, deceive or exploit
  • Unjustified suspicion of the loyalty or trustworthiness of others
  • Hesitant to confide in others due to unreasonable fear that others will use the information against you
  • Perception of innocent remarks or unthreatening situations as personal insults or attacks
  • Angry or hostile reaction to perceived slights or insults, with a tendency to hold grudges
  • Unjustified, recurrent suspicion that spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful
  • Inability to work together with others
  • Detachment and social isolation
  • Lack of insight that feelings are unjustified

Treatment is difficult because people with this condition are often very suspicious of doctors. Medications and behavioral (talk) therapy can often be effective; reducing paranoia and limiting its impact on the person’s daily functioning.
The other disorders in Cluster A are schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders. Other considerations (causes, treatments) are similar, but here are some of the defining symptoms of each.

schizoid

Schizoid personality disorder: Think of an excessively flat personality

  • Appearance of indifference to others
  • Inability to take pleasure in activities or accomplishments
  • Inability to pick up on social cues
  • Little emotional expression
  • Little interest in sex or interpersonal relationships

 schizotypal

Schizotypal personality disorder – Think of abnormal thoughts and activities

  • Belief that incidents or events have hidden messages meant specifically for you
  • Belief that you can influence people and events with your thoughts (aka magical thinking)
  • Inappropriately indifferent responses to others
  • Inappropriate or flat emotions
  • Lack of comfort with close relationships
  • Odd perceptual experiences (e.g. hearing a voice say your name)
  • Social anxiety

Remember, it’s not enough to have some symptoms. A level of social dysfunction is necessary to establish a diagnosis.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress. We are also on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.