What is Paranoia?

[Montezuma]

What are all the symptoms, from beginning to end, how can you
stop it and what can it lead to if not treated?

[barbitu8]

http://www.geocities.com/morrison94/psychosis.htm#Basic See also “paranoid” in the same reference. There are basically two types: schizophrenic paranoia and paranoic personality disorder. The former is manifested by psychosis: loss of touch with reality due to either or both delusions and/or hallucinations. For an example of the rather, refer to the late Richard Nixon.

[AncientHumanoid]

Why do you want to know? Who are you? How did you get this number?

[Some_Guy]

Remember, just because you’re paranoid, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.

[Zoe]

One of my friends has a father that has been diagnosed as paranoid. I don’t know which type it is, but I have been told that it is really difficult to cure. Many of those who are diagnosed are afraid to take their medicine.

Yet, one of the most interesting, entertaining and gracious persons that I have ever met has schizophrenic paranoia. It was heartbreaking to see such a “beautiful mind” living in such fear and confusion.

[SC_Wolf]

This probably wasn’t what you were asking about, but Paranoia was the title of a fairly successful pen & paper tabletop Role Playing Game published by West End Games.

[Montezuma]

Could anyone give a very detailed description for me please?

Thanx

[barbitu8]

I don’t have the DSM-4 anymore since I retired from work. I should have not left the office without it. However, I did sneak out an old Merck Manual, which states the following.

Paranoid schizophrenia. Delusions which are illogical and unrelated to reality, hallucinations, and typical schizophrenic disturbaqnce in association and affect, together with negativism, are the most prominent symptoms. This type tends to make its frank appearance in persons aged 30 to 35. Delusions of persecution are the chief manifestation, but depressive, hypochondriacal, or fantastically expansive, obviously wish-fulfilling, ideas are common. [snip] Diagnosis. …Differentiation must be made from conversion reactions, obsessive-compulsive reactions, and the major affective disorders. In general, the schizophrenic creates a more bizarre impression and appears more frightened than either the neurotic or the manic-depressive patient. At times it is difficult, especially in young people, to differentiate a manic-depressive reaction from the onset of a schizophrenic reaction. [snip]

Paranoid reactions. A psychotic state characterized by persistent delusions, typically persecutory or grandiose, usually without hallucinations or defects in intelligence. The paranoid state ranges by imperceptible gradations from a circumscribed delusional system with no destruction of affect, associative processses, or the instinctually motivated striving aspects of the personality to the state of disorganization seen in paranoid schizophrenia. This is reflected in inadequate affective responses, increasingly disorganized associations, and the symbolization and projection of mental material as hallucinations. [snip] Diagnosis. In paranoia, the ideas are more sustained and are supported by a less changeable affect, in contrast to the vacillations usual in mania. Since the mental operations are only exaggerations of normal mechanisms, it is difficult at times to differentiate the non-psychotic from the psychotic paranoiac. The patient is psychotic if the reaction is continuous, if his beliefs cannot be corrected, if they tend to spread, and if they are completely illogical. [snip]

Paranoid personality. These people tend to be hypersensitive, with an underlying suspicion of others and their motivations. They are often rigid and inflexible in behavior and react poorly to criticism or suggestions for change. They feel isolated and project onto others harmful motives and blame for misfortune. It is assumed that these traits are the person’s ways of dealing with feelings about himself which he regards as unacceptable, demeaning, or dangerous. Often the suspicious attitude leads to aggressive feelings and/or behavior, with resultant further isolation. The individual’s sense of self-adequacy and self-esteem seems particularly impaired. Often the behavior of these people is designed to prove their adequacy, while their sense of worthiness becomes exaggerated and is accompanied by belittlement of others. In many spheres they may be hihgly efficient and conscientious, though lacking flexibility. Positions of power and recognition may be achieved, but frequently at the expense of the ability to relax and to maintain a sense of humor. Often their suspiciousness and hostility bring about rejection by others, which seems to justify their original feelings, but they are unable to see their own art in this cycle. They may be litigious, especially when they feel a sense of righteous indignation.

[RealityChuck]

That’s what they want you to think…

[jawdirk]

If you want to understand paranoia, just pretend that everyone in the world felt the same way about you, as you feel about me.

[Margeuerite]

I was diagnosed with paranoia and panic disorder after starting graduate school last fall (big surprise, eh?) I had had problems with hyponchondria and anxiety disorders since my third year of college, so it wasn’t a big surprise to anyone.

Paranoia is serious because it’s a psychosis (as opposed to a neurosis, such as an anxiety disorder). This means it affects a person’s quality of life, i.e. there’s no way the person can “escape” the paranoid feelings even for a few hours. My psychiatrist put me on Risperdal 6 mg, which cleared up the symptoms within four weeks. They also did an MRI of my brain to rule out organic causes, such as brain lesions. (Any good MD will recommend an MRI when treating a psychosis.)

Some of the symptoms of psychosis are delusions (believing in things that most other people would not consider true or real), hallucinations (seeing and hearing things other people don’t), suspiciousness, unrealistic fears (e.g., that people are plotting against you, are trying to kill you, or are releasing radioactive mold spores into your home), and impulsiveness. (source: www.risperdal.com/consumer/about.htm).

Barbitu8’s post gives some great information, esp. in the “paranoid reactions” paragraph. You can try googling “antipsychotic drugs” for a list of drugs used to treat paranoia. Risperdal is the newest drug on the market, so that’s why it gets a lot of attention, but there are other drugs that are available to patients depending on their needs. Most of these drugs are approved for treatment of schizophrenia, but they are used to treat paranoia because its symptoms are so similar to those of schizophrenia.

As to what paranoia can lead to… I’ve not heard of any cases of paranoia developing into schizophrenia, if that’s what you mean, although I’m sure it’s possible. Sometimes a person does not experience a return of symptoms after being treated with medication; other times they do (this is called a relapse). Some people need to stay on the medication for life and cannot function without it. (I know someone like this.) A good psychiatrist will raise or lower the dosage in consultation with the patient, so that the patient is on the smallest working dose possible to minimize the risk of tardive dyskinesia, a side effect of antipsychotics. In my case, I worked my way off the Risperdal (with MD’s assistance) and by March was completely off the medication. I’ve not had any symptoms return–in fact, I feel better now than I ever have.

Sorry for the long post…hope this helps.

[barbitu8]

*Originally posted by the_secret_hamster *
As to what paranoia can lead to… I’ve not heard of any cases of paranoia developing into schizophrenia, if that’s what you mean, although I’m sure it’s possible.

The paranoia that you are being treated for as a type of schizophrenia. I again quote from the Merck Manual:

Psycotic disorders. A group of mental disorders in which mental or emotional functioning is so impaired that it interferes greatly with the capacity to meet the ordinary demands oflife and to relate to people. The impairment may be a distortion in reality recognition; hallucinations and delusions may distort perception. Mood may be altered profoundly. Perception, language, and memory may be markedly diminished. Reason and argument fail to correct misconceptions.

Psychotic disorders are grouped into 3 major categories: schizophrenia, paranoid reactions, and major affective disorders (primarily depressions).

Schizophrenia. A group of profound mental disorders without apparent organic cause. The term is applied to patients who exhibit some or all of the following primary symptoms and in whom brain function is not demonstrably deranged: (1)disturbance of logical associations, (2) disturbance of affect - the range of emotional response is limited, (3) autism or a detachment from reality, and (4) ambivalence or mixed feelings to an incapacitating degree. Delusions, hallucinations, psychomotor retardation, and excitement have been classed as secondary symptoms of schizophrenia but are not always present…
[snip]
Transition from one type of schizophrenia to another is so common during different phases of the psychosis that the current tendency among psychiatrists is to abandon classification. However, these terms are useful for descriptive purposes. [Here Merck describes simple, hebephrenic, catatonic, and paranoid] Paranoid. Delusions which are illogical, etc., [as I described in my prior post.]

Treatment. Drug therapy: In general, the major drugs used are the phenothiazine compounds and the butyrophenones (e.g., haloperidol). For the acutely agitated patient, one of the phenothiazines in parenteral form is most effective. [Mentions here chlorpromazine and perphenzine.] For maintenance treatment, oral chlorpromazine, thioridazine, perphenazine, trifluooperazine, or fluphenazine can be used.

The Merck describes further treatment, naming such as ECT, insulin shock therapy, and psychotherapy. I have the 12th edition, which is really an old one, 1972-1973.

[Scuba_Ben]

*Originally posted by SC_Wolf *
**This probably wasn’t what you were asking about, but Paranoia was the title of a fairly successful pen & paper tabletop Role Playing Game published by West End Games. **

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