Paranoid Personality Disorder, also called PPD, is characterized by an excess of distrust on the part of the individual and suspicion towards others, in which their intentions are, in most cases, interpreted as malicious. Generally, this disorder appears in early adulthood and may be a consequence of hereditary factors and childhood experiences.
PPD usually occurs in association with other disorders, such as anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and agoraphobia, and it is important that a psychologist is consulted so that the most appropriate treatment can be initiated. Treatment is carried out with psychotherapy sessions, using the cognitive-behavioral method, and in some cases it may be necessary to resort to the use of medications, which must be indicated by the psychiatrist.
Main signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of paranoid personality disorder usually appear in early adulthood, the main ones being:
- Persistent distrust of other people;
- Suspect that you are being exploited, mistreated or deceived by other people, even if there is no plausible reason for this;
- I am afraid of giving information to other people that could be used maliciously against you;
- Misinterpretation of events without malicious intent, so that they may think that a certain event was humiliating and/or threatening, for example;
- Constantly holds a grudge;
- More easily identifies attacks on your character or reputation and reacts with anger.
Furthermore, people with this type of disorder may doubt the loyalty of friends, relatives and spouses, so that social relationships may be harmed, as questions about people’s intentions occur constantly.
Possible causes
It is not known exactly what causes this personality disorder, but it is thought that it may be related to hereditary factors, as paranoid personality disorder is more common in people who have family members with schizophrenia or delusional disorder.
Furthermore, childhood experiences can also have an influence on the development of this disorder, such as bullying, moral harassment or having grown up in an environment where parents/guardians are more cautious and careful with people, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
In most cases, people suffering from paranoid personality disorder feel that they do not need treatment and see no reason to do so. However, it is important that the treatment is carried out in accordance with the psychologist’s guidelines, through cognitive-behavioral therapy, as it is possible to create strategies that allow the person to trust people more, so that their interpersonal relationships are not so harmed.
Furthermore, in some cases, especially when TPP is associated with other disorders, treatment with a psychiatrist may be recommended, who may recommend the use of medication.
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Bibliography
- SCHMIDT, Diego Rafael; MEA, Cristina PD Paranoid Personality Disorder Within the Cognitive-Behavioral Approach. IMED Psychology Magazine. Vol 5. 2 ed; 77-83, 2013
