Paranoia and Paranoid Beliefs

Abstract

Abstract Paranoia has at various times been considered a symptom of psychosis, a distinct disorder, a type of personality disorder, and a personality trait. However defined, the core features are interpersonal vulnerability, mistrust, and the anticipation of harm from malevolent others which, in its most severe form, can be considered delusional. There have been persisting debates about whether delusional paranoia reflects a qualitatively distinct mental state, as indicated by some phenomenological studies, or lies on a continuum with ordinary suspiciousness. Little is known about the genetics of paranoia, but there is substantial evidence that it is associated with specific social challenges such as disrupted early attachment relationships, living in deprived circumstances, and experiences of victimization. Considerable progress has also been made in developing psychological models which identify the cognitive (jumping to conclusions and bias against disconfirmatory information) and emotional factors (low self-esteem and insecure attachment styles) that contribute to paranoid beliefs.