paranoid personality disorder

Last reviewed 01/2018

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD), which belongs to the cluster A personality disorder, is a condition characterised by paranoia, a relentless mistrust and suspicion of others without adequate reason to be suspicious (1,2)

• paranoia does not represent delusional psychosis but rather a “distinctly paranoid cognitive style” (2)

It is considered to be one if the most common personality disorders.

• between 2.4%-4.1% of the general population is thought to suffer from PPD
• often begins in childhood or early adolescence
• appears to be more common in men than in women (1,2)

Comorbidities associated with PPD include:

• panic disorder with agoraphobia
• schizotypal, narcissistic, borderline, and avoidant personality disorder traits (2)

Reference:

• (1) Cleveland clinic. Paranoid personality disorder. Accessed 25/07/2017
• (2) Vyas A, Khan M. Case report. Paranoid personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ journal. 2016;11(1):9-11