Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Is paranoia only associated with schizophrenia?

NO.  Paranoia is a symptom that can occur in several other mental disorders including bipolar I disorder. More than 50% of individuals with bipolar I disorder have psychotic symptoms -- delusions or hallucinations -- when they develop mania.

Paranoia though is most common in schizophrenia. One may see it in people who abuse illicit drugs like cocaine, LSD or methamphetamine.
There are also some people who have mild degrees of paranoia and tend to function well in life. These people have a paranoid personality but are not delusional.

There are many examples of paranoia in people who have suffered brain trauma. Paranoia is also common in hospital patients but in such cases the paranoia is only mild and rarely reaches the severe intensity seen in schizophrenia. People who have borderline personality do tend to have a certain paranoia and tend not to trust people. These people live on the fringe of neurosis and psychosis.

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