The Human Mind
Personality Disorders
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder is a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
- suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her;
- is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates;
- is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her;
- reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events;
- persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults , injuries, or slights, perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack;
- has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.
Source: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
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