Psychological Disorders: Paranoid Personality Disorder

American Description
A. A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

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

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

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

reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events

persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights

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

has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner

B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, or another Psychotic Disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition.
Note: If criteria are met prior to the onset of Schizophrenia, add "Premorbid," e.g., "Paranoid Personality Disorder (Premorbid)."

European Description
Personality disorder characterized by at least 3 of the following:

(a) excessive sensitiveness to setbacks and rebuffs;
(b) tendency to bear grudges persistently, i.e. refusal to forgive insults and injuries or slights;
(c) suspiciousness and a pervasive tendency to distort experience by misconstruing the neutral or friendly actions of others as hostile or contemptuous;
(d) a combative and tenacious sense of personal rights out of keeping with the actual situation;
(e) recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding sexual fidelity of spouse or sexual partner;
(f) tendency to experience excessive self-importance, manifest in a persistent self-referential attitude;
(g) preoccupation with unsubstantiated "conspiratorial" explanations of events both immediate to the patient and in the world at large.

Includes:
* expansive paranoid, fanatic, querulant and sensitive paranoid personality (disorder)

Excludes:
* delusional disorder
* schizophrenia