What is paranoia and how does it manifest itself: symptoms and signs, how to get rid of it, consequences

Paranoia is a severe mental disorder. It is characterized by the emergence of excessive suspicion in a person. With the development of this pathology, patients begin to see evil intent and build conspiracy theories in any random combination of life circumstances. Against this background, they are capable of unpredictable actions.

Pathogenesis of the disorder

Many scientists consider paranoia to be an independent form of mental disorder. The pathology is characterized by gradually developing delusions that occur without visual or auditory hallucinations. But often its appearance is accompanied by false memories. Over time, delirium becomes persistent.

The patient's mood is closely related to obsessions. In certain cases it can be suppressed, expansive or increased. In this case, the pathology is not accompanied by a pronounced change in mental abilities. There is a tendency to detail and thoroughness in thinking. The patient's behavior may remain unchanged for a long time.

Paranoia disease symptoms

Persons diagnosed with the disease are characterized by the presence of delusional ideas and pathological suspicion. They constantly imagine enemies who want to harm, frame, and even kill. The patient retains all mental abilities, he does not lose the tendency to build logical chains in his head. This is the foundation for the formation of numerous “conspiracy theories” against oneself.

Treatment of paranoia is complicated by the fact that the patient does not trust doctors; he believes that the drugs prescribed to him only make things worse. Relatives and friends are also included in the list of ill-wishers, as they try to motivate the patient to be hospitalized.

Often the disease is diagnosed in young people as a result of taking a certain group of medications, drugs, alcohol and amphetamines. Mental deviation can occur in a person, regardless of gender, social status and lifestyle. In men and women, paranoid disorder has different signs, on the basis of which the psychiatrist makes primary conclusions about the presence or absence of the disease. Next, a comprehensive examination is prescribed in a hospital setting.

Provoking factors

Scientists have not yet identified the exact causes of the disease. But experts have identified a number of factors that significantly increase the risk of developing pathology. These include:

heredity;
protein metabolism disorder;
psychological trauma that the patient received in childhood;
neurological and mental diseases;
long-term depression;
neuroses;
prolonged isolation from society;
difficult life situations;
long-term use of medications, drugs or alcohol consumption.

The risk group includes patients suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Many scientists believe that regular consumption of large quantities of strong coffee can provoke the development of paranoid syndrome. The drink negatively affects the quality of sleep, insomnia develops, against the background of which the body is constantly in a depressed state.

Diagnosis of paranoid state

To understand the cause of the problem and understand how to get rid of it, you need to make an appointment with a psychiatrist. The doctor will conduct a survey to identify the origins of the disorder.

At the diagnostic stage the following are used:

conversation;
psychological techniques;
pathopsychological testing;
neurotests;
physiological testing.

It is important for the doctor to observe the patient’s movements, her manner of speaking, and habits, so an in-person consultation is mandatory. Employees receive patients at the hospital or go to patients’ homes. You can choose the optimal primary diagnostic option for yourself.

Paranoid syndrome and similar disorders

Paranoid syndrome is a mental disorder characterized by the presence of systematic delusions. This condition develops slowly and over time the patient develops a complex system of inferences.

Kraepelin

The disease was described in 1863 by Emil Kraepelin. However, a little later, in 1912, several forms of pathology were identified, such as paranoid delusions and paranoid schizophrenia. In Soviet and Russian psychiatry, it is also customary to separate these concepts, since they differ in development patterns and clinical signs.

Unlike paranoia, paranoid syndrome is characterized by the presence of several delusional ideas. The disease is one of the stages in the development of paranoid schizophrenia, and in rare cases it is observed with the development of various other mental disorders.

Paranoid schizophrenia is a pathology characterized by a predominance of paranoid syndrome. Symptoms increase gradually, but paranoia is not observed.

The disease was identified in 1912 as an independent mental disorder. Before this period, it was believed that paranoid schizophrenia was only a form of paranoia.

In contrast to paranoia, patients retain a sense of the reality of what is happening. There are no hallucinations or systematic delusions. The pathology is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation.

What is the difference between paranoia and paranoid disorders?

As has already been clarified, paranoia and paranoid disorders are different diseases. What symptoms of paranoia will help distinguish it from other diseases? Here are some examples:

With paranoia, there is one obsession and thought. For example, it seems to you that your work colleague wants to set you up. Therefore, all working moments are accompanied by this single thought. When you are upset, it seems that all the people around you want to set you up and deceive you. That is, there is a large-scale manifestation of the disease;
The paranoia itself is very logical and consistent. That is, the patient builds a fairly reasoned sequence and cause-and-effect relationships between the delusional idea and the surrounding circumstances. Delusional disorders have no logic and no relationship with events;
Paranoia does not imply the occurrence of any hallucinations or real distortions of reality. In disorders, delusions and hallucinations are observed together.

History of diagnosis

Paranoid syndrome began to be studied in more detail after the disease was identified as an independent disease. In 1915, a number of scientists proved that pathology is accompanied by interpretive delusions and that often all the patient’s thoughts are systematized.

Later, already in 1934, in the works of V.M. Morozov, it was proven that patients develop persistent delusional thoughts over time. All conclusions have a special system and patients are confident that they are right.

Also in the works of A.B. Smulevich and M.G. Shchirina in 1972 found that in some cases the disease develops like an epiphany, acutely and suddenly.

Male paranoia of betrayal (jealousy)

The leading sign of the disorder is the conviction that the spouse is unfaithful, and this conviction has no basis and is based on painful ideas, unfounded, often far-fetched “evidence” and beliefs. Sometimes a man sincerely believes that his wife is not only cheating, but is also planning something bad, for example, she wants to poison her, set her up, etc.

This form of male paranoia is also characterized by the following symptoms:

emotional lability, but gradually the periods of complacent, good mood become shorter and shorter, anxiety, irritation and anger predominate;
constant search for evidence of the spouse’s infidelity: studying messages, photos, phone call history, examining bedding and underwear, clothes, surveillance (sometimes the patient even resorts to the help of private detectives);
endless quarrels and conflicts (even to the point of physical violence), and often the wife is forced to admit to cheating just to end the scandal.

At the same time, the “jealous” person usually does not think about the identity of the alleged lover; it is the very fact of adultery that worries him. The literature on psychiatry describes clinical cases where a patient equipped his home with a complex system of security cameras, another patient did not stop at traffic lights, fearing that his wife would become acquainted with the driver of another car during this time, etc.

Classification according to ICD-10

In the international classification of diseases intended for use in Russia, delusional disorders have code F 22.01. It also includes paranoid development.

Also, other delusional personality disorders, including the querulant form, belong to the section coded F28.8 and F28.88. In the official ICD-10, paranoia is not classified as a separate section and corresponds to delusional disorder, code F22.0.

With a mild course of the pathology, they speak of paranoid disorder, the code of which, in accordance with ICD-10, is F60.0. In this case, the term “paranoid” means something similar to paranoia.

In addition, there is another form of personality disorder similar to paranoia. Paranoid schizophrenia. In the ICD, adapted for use in Russia, it belongs to the heading F22.03 - paranoid schizophrenia.

International Classification of Diseases

If you turn to the official international classification ICD-10, you will find that paranoia itself is not a disease. Only paranoid-type disorders that arise in the presence of other mental illnesses are considered. Is this the right approach? Unknown. But previously, paranoia within the framework of classical psychiatry was considered as an independent disease.

Characteristics of a typical patient

Patients suffering from paranoid syndrome are distrustful and suspicious of other people. This manifests itself in systematized delirium. A person always believes that others have bad intentions and are plotting against them. They can talk about their suspicions with a trusted person. But if this person allows himself to doubt that the patient is right, he immediately falls into the circle of conspirators.

In another case, a person imagines a conspiracy in which a group of people participates. The patient tells about this to everyone he meets and can trust. In this way he wants to protect himself and warn others about evil intentions.

A person with paranoid syndrome believes that they are trying to deceive him or take advantage of him for their own purposes. However, there is no evidence. Such relationships permeate not only personal relationships, but also professional ones, regardless of the environment.

Paranoia: its signs

During the course of the disease, it is difficult to identify any clear stages. Sometimes the manifestation of the disease may be preceded by a prodromal period, which is characterized by mood changes. The patient is less and less likely to be in a complacent mood. Suspiciousness, gloominess, self-absorption, pickiness are typical. A person can avoid communication, provoke scandals and conflicts.

With paranoia, symptoms usually appear when what is happening is somehow related to formed delusional ideas. Otherwise, the patient does not give the impression of a mentally unhealthy person, especially during the period of remission. He takes care of his appearance, is neat, is able to maintain a logically coherent conversation, and in some cases his ability to work is preserved.

Clinical picture

Signs of paranoia can manifest themselves in varying degrees of severity, so the main symptoms of paranoid syndrome include:

decreased mental activity;
inability to adequately perceive criticism;
suspicion;
hostility;
hallucinations, most often auditory;
megalomania;
touchiness;
jealousy is constant and unfounded;
tendency to pass off fantasies as reality.

In addition, there is constant anxiety and fear. Patients suffer from depression and prolonged psychosis. Often they begin to file complaints to various authorities against people whom they consider their enemies and involved in the conspiracy.

Treatment in Re-Alt

Treatment of paranoid personality disorder is carried out comprehensively - psychotherapeutic methods are combined with drug therapy. The main condition for achieving successful results is establishing a trusting relationship with the patient, which is the main difficulty when working with such people. Due to their position in life, with elements of negativism, patients are reluctant to interact with a psychotherapist. The psychoanalytic approach is the most effective in correcting paranoid disorders. Therapy is long-term, much depends on the person's participation in the treatment process and the severity of the disorder.

Treatment of paranoid personality disorder in psychiatry is often carried out using psychoanalytic and cognitive behavioral therapy. A psychotherapist helps a person accept his feelings and develop more effective behavior patterns. For the specialist, the main task is to help the patient understand how to cope with the conflict caused by it, through reassessment and awareness.

Patients' reliance on denial directly affects the speed of treatment. This defense mechanism works by categorically refusing to acknowledge something specific. Direct interpretations of transference face even more denial. It takes a long time and support for a person to begin to accept the possibility that the shortcomings of others that he sees are in himself. A sign of successful treatment will be the person’s awareness that his negative thoughts and suspicions have no objective justification. With long-term therapy, it is possible to compensate for the severity of paranoid thinking, which increases with old age.

Drug treatment is prescribed, most often, during periods of deterioration of the condition and in short courses, due to the fact that a person may not take medications or consider them to be ineffective.

Development of pathology

Paranoid syndrome develops in two stages. The first is characterized by the secrecy of delusional ideas in the patient’s behavior and actions. But the character begins to gradually change, suspicion appears. The patient adjusts his life to his fantasies, taking them for reality.

The second stage is characterized by an improvement in delusional deviations. The patient suffers from auditory hallucinations. The paranoid constantly imagines surveillance, alien voices that call him and impose their truths.

Often such people turn to investigative authorities for help due to wiretapping. The patient begins to be overcome by fear, panic, and anxiety. He feels like he is surrounded by a secret conspiracy. He talks about his plans with caution.

Only a doctor can stop the development of mental disorders, psychosis, depression and constant horror.

Folk remedies for treating paranoia

Alternative therapy should be started after consultation with a doctor. Medicinal plants are used in parallel with medications. But treatment of the disorder using traditional methods is possible only in the initial stages; in advanced cases, hospitalization is indicated for the paranoid.

The effect of therapy is enhanced by the following herbal raw materials:

Geranium. Grind 200 g of young shoots of the plant, place in a teapot with a spout and put a rubber tube on this spout. Then place the dish on the stove, lowering the tube into the glass. Keep the kettle on low heat for 3 hours. Dilute a couple of drops of the resulting product in a glass of water, take 2 times a day.
Ginger. Grind the tubers of the plant. The resulting powder is taken as follows: dilute 10 g in boiled milk, drink 3 times a day.
Plant complex. Mix dried hawthorn, oregano, hops, St. John's wort, lilac and cucumber. Boil 30 g of the mixture in half a liter of water, and leave the resulting mixture for 12 hours. In the morning, drink 100 ml of infusion. The course of treatment lasts 60 days.

Exotic plants also used include ashwagandha (Indian ginseng, an adaptogen that fights stress) and brahmi (a brain tonic that improves memory).

Character of the current

In medicine, there are several types of paranoia, which differ in signs and causes, these include:

Alcoholic . Occurs due to prolonged use of alcoholic beverages. One of the signs is pathological jealousy. The mania of persecution also manifests itself.
Involutionary . Characterized by delusions of persecution, grandeur, and jealousy. Occurs at the age of 45-60 years.
Megalomaniac . Systematized delusions of grandeur. Often the patient feels like a pioneer or reformer.
Delirium of jealousy . The patient always thinks that his spouse is unfaithful to him.
Religious . Delusional ideas of religious content.
Persecute . Systematized ideas of persecution.
Erotic . It develops more often in women 40-50 years old. Characterized by a predominance of erotic delirium.
Senile . Occurs in old age.
Spicy . Manifested by sudden, figurative delusions of grandeur, relationships, or persecution.
expansive paranoia is also distinguished Images of delirium also appear suddenly. Most often they are of a religious nature.

What types of paranoia are there?

If we consider paranoia as a generalizing concept of all possible forms and disorders, then we can distinguish many different forms and types. Although psychology differentiates these diseases and disorders from each other, some varieties may overlap. Therefore, it is important to consider all possible variations of delusions in an individual. Let's look at them.

Alcohol paranoia

Alcohol paranoia is a term that describes delusions that occur as a result of alcohol dependence. There are two options here:

Delirium based on alcohol intoxication of the body

Delirium that occurs from withdrawal symptoms (withdrawal syndrome)

Most often, alcohol paranoia is observed in adults aged 30-40 years. This type of paranoia is more common in men than in women. It is accompanied by sudden attacks of aggression, jealousy, and can also be characterized by feelings of persecution (surveillance).

Children growing up in families where parents drink alcohol often note that their parents behave inappropriately when intoxicated. Roughly speaking, they make fun of little things, try to catch you in deception, even if there was none. This is where alcohol paranoia manifests itself.

Involutionary paranoia

The word “involutional” denotes a certain age of a person: 50-60 years. In this type of paranoia, the patient has a feeling of persecution, deception, and lies. More often women suffer from this type of paranoia. In women, it can also be caused by hormonal changes (menopause).

Megalomania or megalomaniac paranoia

The term megalomania is used in simple words to describe delusions of grandeur, which we have already discussed in this article. What accompanies a patient with megalomania:

Feeling and awareness of one’s own uniqueness;
Delusions of grandeur, including increased heart rate;
Humiliation of others;
The desire to show your exclusivity and peculiarity to society.

Such paranoids often try to achieve great success in many fields, such as science and art. At the same time, if their work turns out to be unappreciated, a feeling of hatred towards others arises, accusations of stupidity and ignorance.

This type is divided into two separate subtypes: inventory and reform.

The tendency to have obsessive thoughts about persecution is the first sign of paranoia in a person

Inventory

This type of megalomania is characterized by the fact that a person develops a mania for invention or a mania for making discoveries.

Reform paranoia

Reformative, on the other hand, represents obsessive thoughts and ideas about a radical change in the social system, way of life, and political structure.

That is, these types of megalomania differ only in the direction of the paranoid’s thinking.

Paranoia of jealousy

Here the picture is clearer. Paranoia arises from jealousy. At the same time, jealousy may, in principle, not have any objective reasons and signs. People with this disorder try to convict their other half of cheating, although there is no evidence of infidelity. This is simply an obsession that does not give the patient peace.

Religious paranoia

Religious paranoia suggests that a person becomes a violent fanatic, an adherent of some religion. It is important that what is meant here is fanaticism, and not faith as such. In this case, the patient may distort the content of accepted norms and dogmas of some religious movement.

Persuasive paranoia

Here, too, the classification depends on exactly what ideas are constantly spinning in the patient’s head. In this case it is persecution mania. The patient gets the feeling that they are constantly watching him, trying to harm him and track him down.

This type of delirium has characteristic mental anxiety, fear, a feeling of helplessness, alienation, a desire to secure one’s place of residence, a feeling that everything around is in cahoots.

Erotic paranoia

The erotic type of disorder is obsessive thoughts of erotic content. The person begins to become manic. Most often occurs among women who have reached the age of 50-60 years. Erotic delusions may be accompanied by deep fantasies, thoughts about sexual desire, sex, and hallucinations. At the same time, hallucinations are not so common here.

Senile paranoia

Senile also develops in adulthood. And it can be associated with various thoughts. There are no restrictions on possible manic ideas and delusions. Often spreads to a close circle of people (family, friends, colleagues).

Querulant or Querulant paranoia

To understand what exactly is meant by this form of paranoia, it is necessary to consider such a phenomenon as querulant delusion. The term “queerulant” itself means that a person is overcome by thoughts of this kind, such as self-pity, a constant feeling that his personality and rights are being infringed upon. Therefore, the Querulant form of delusion and paranoia implies that the patient suffers from obsessive thoughts that he is “poor and unhappy,” and everyone around him is trying to humiliate, offend or offend him.

The types and forms of paranoia differ in what kind of thoughts haunt the paranoid person

Suggestively delusional paranoia

This type of disease was discovered by Bekhterev. It was he who first described the delirium of a person who concentrates on hypnotic charm. In simple words, this is delirium of love charm. That is, the patient is sincerely convinced that all the people around him (or a group of people) are in love with him. And this thought haunts the patient.

Sensitive (sensitive) paranoia

This form is characterized by a more generalized and extensive action. Sensitive comes from the English word “sensitive”, which translates as feeling, to feel. Accordingly, with sensitive paranoia, the patient is sure that all people have something to do with him. That is, the paranoid person is convinced that every person around him has a specific attitude towards him (most often a negative attitude in the patient’s head). It is this thought that the patient is fixated on.

Acute paranoia

This concept already applies more to the immediate forms of paranoid disorder:

Light shape;
Acute form of the disease.

The mild form is much more common and is characteristic of all of the listed types of this disease. However, acute is the most dangerous and more difficult to treat and diagnose. The very content of a paranoid person’s thoughts can be of a varied nature: from persecution to erotic delusional ideas. At the same time, the manifestations are very obvious, active, aggressive. Since the patient’s personal perception of reality is completely distorted.

Acute expansive paranoia

Expansive paranoia of the acute type is also characterized by the fact that it can include a wide range of thoughts and topics. However, it arises abruptly and unexpectedly. Development is happening rapidly. That is, this form of the disease actually does not have a “mild form of the disease” stage.

Among the forms of paranoia there are mild, acute and acute expansive

Complex of therapeutic measures

Treatment can be carried out either inpatient or outpatient, depending on the patient’s condition. Therapy involves taking antipsychotics, sedatives and antidepressants. Medicines are prescribed only by a doctor after examination and all psychological tests.

There are also ongoing conversations with the patient in order to change his thinking. To treat the disease, the main directions are used: family psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, individual and group work. Thanks to this approach, patients can manage their emotions. Support and understanding from loved ones is also important.

It is difficult to completely get rid of paranoia, since the patient’s suspicions also extend to the attending physician, and the prescribed psychotherapy is perceived as an attempt to keep his thoughts and actions under control.

If left untreated, long-term depression occurs. Patients constantly feel fear and anxiety. This condition leads to suicidal thoughts. Often patients become aggressive and dangerous to others.

Paranoid syndrome is a chronic disease that is characterized by mental disorder and the occurrence of delusional ideas. The causes of the pathology have not been established to date. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing paranoia. Treatment consists of constant monitoring of the patient and changing his consciousness.

FAQ

To study the issue in this article in more detail, it is necessary to consider the most common questions that arise in relation to paranoid disorder. Let's look at the answers to these popular questions.

What to do if paranoia strikes suddenly

When paranoia appears suddenly, the following questions need to be answered:

Did she really appear suddenly?
What are the causes of paranoia?
Is this situation a transition from a mild to an acute form?

In any case, the best decision would be to consult a psychiatrist for help. It is he who will be able to accurately diagnose this disease and offer you a treatment path.

However, if by surprise you mean being discovered and somewhat surprised by it, then you can try to deal with paranoia on your own. But it is important to remember that when self-medicating, you take responsibility for the fact that the disease can be neglected.

What to do if paranoia develops in a child or teenager

In the case of children, it is most important to see a doctor immediately. Due to the fact that children and adolescents have an unstable and weak psyche, they cannot properly assess the situation. Moreover, they are unlikely to suspect they are paranoid. As a parent, you need to explain to your child that medical help is necessary. Do not pressure or threaten under any circumstances. Try to make contact, show empathy and love. You need to become a helper and protector in the eyes of your child.

Is it possible to remove the problem with medication?

Yes, medications solve problems of paranoia. This has already been discussed. However, this decision is made by the attending physician. He will write out special antipsychotics according to your prescription. Therefore, you still have to see a doctor.

There are different treatment options for paranoia