Message #20362

[Jitendra Hydonus]

 What is paranoia?

Paranoia refers to feelings of distrust, suspicion, or persecution that are not based in reality. Paranoia is a kind of delusion in which a person thinks he or she is being singled out in a negative way. People with paranoia will look for evidence to prove they are being singled out, and refuse to see that they have an exaggerated view of their own significance.

The exact cause of paranoia is not known. Paranoia is more common in men than in women, though the exact prevalence of paranoia is not known. Paranoia is a mental and emotional symptom of many types of mental illness, including paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia. There are many types of paranoia.

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Paranoia is characterized by delusions that others have hidden motives or a wish to harm you, feelings of mistrust and hostility, a sense of being persecuted, and social isolation and withdrawal. Paranoia should be evaluated by a mental health care practitioner. It is often difficult to treat paranoia, because people with paranoia are frequently suspicious of medical intervention.

~from Health Grades