PPP is characterized by suspicion and mistrust. Everyone is sometimes suspicious and sometimes unjustified. However, as soon as someone is structurally suspicious, looks for something threatening in every event and something behind everything, this can become a problem. When this takes extreme forms and hinders normal functioning, one can speak of a Paranoid Personality Disorder.
Characteristics
According to the DSM, someone has a paranoid personality disorder when they meet four or more of the following criteria.
- Unfounded suspicion that others are exploiting, deceiving, excluding or otherwise intending to harm him or her.
- Always doubts the reliability or loyalty of friends or colleagues for no apparent reason.
- Does not easily confide in someone because there is a fear that this will ultimately be used against him or her.
- Looks for a hidden humiliation, threat or insult behind every innocent joke or comment.
- Vengeful and vindictive; Injustices and slights are not forgiven.
- Can’t stand criticism at all and overreacts to it. However, he is very critical of others.
- Pathologically jealous and always has doubts about the partner’s faithfulness, without valid reasons.
General
Paranoid personality disorder occurs in 0.5 to 2.5 percent of people and is more common in men than in women. Schizophrenia often runs in families. People with PPS often feel like they are bad. They possess character traits that they cannot or find difficult to accept from themselves and project those feelings onto other people. As the innkeeper is, he trusts his guests. Because they are convinced that others are the cause of their problem, they usually do not recognize the disorder in themselves and someone with PPS will therefore not quickly seek professional help.
Relationships with other people
Paranoid personalities are not very social. Others experience them as hostile and humorless. Because they rarely take responsibility for their mistakes and blame others, they quickly become defensive. -Attack is the best defense- is often their motto and since they are often resentful, they are often burdened by frequent conflicts.
Relationship with a partner
Due to morbid jealousy, someone with PPS will adopt a dominant and restrictive attitude, often in a despotic manner. As a partner, it is not easy to prove his or her reliability. With a lot of patience, some progress can be made in this regard, although one must be careful not to respond to unreasonable demands. Humor or ridicule is not allowed, the paranoid personal partner does not understand this and will absolutely not appreciate it.
PPS compared to other personality disorders
Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPS) and Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPS)
- PPP: mistrust and suspicion
- SPS: cold and distant
- STPS: delusional thinking
- Similarity: little contact with others and isolated living
Schizophrenia
- PPP: unfounded distrust
- Schizophrenia: persecutory delusions and hallucinations
- Similarity: suspicion
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- PPS: ingrained character trait
- BPD: usually a response to a stressful event and often transient
- Similarity: distrust and suspicion (40% of people with PPD also have BPD)
Avoidant Personality Disorder (OPD)
- PPP: difficult contact due to distrust
- OPS: difficult contact due to fear of rejection
- Similarity: little contact with others and isolated living.