Eccentric Personality Disorders: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Individuals with these disorders often appear odd or peculiar, and show these patterns by early adulthood and in various contexts (e.g., work, home, social situations).

An individual with Paranoid Personality Disorder generally tends to interpret the actions of others as threatening. This distrust and suspiciousness is indicated by four (or more) of the following (from DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994):

 
       1.suspects, without sufficient basis, that others 
         are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her


       2.is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the 
         loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates


       3.is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted 
         fear that the information will be used against him or her


       4.reads hurtful or threatening meanings into kind remarks or events


       5.is unforgiving of insults or injuries


       6.perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that 
         are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily


       7.has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding 
         faithfulness of spouse or sexual partner

In addition to the exclusions described above, this disorder would not be diagnosed if the pattern described above only occurred during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (e.g., Autism)

Schizoid Personality

Schizotypal Personality

Personality Disorders