Paranoia

Paranoia is a serious and potentially debilitating symptom occurring in a variety of psychiatric disorders. Compounded by factors such as a lack of medical treatment and medication non-compliance, people suffering from paranoid delusions can become a danger to themselves and others. Specific types of paranoia have been identified in association with specific psychiatric diagnoses, and many treatment options have also been investigated for use in this population.
According to the study of Lee et al., paranoid ideas are the most common type of delusion reported by psychiatric patients. Paranoia can be caused by several scenarios, and theories have evolved in regards to the mechanisms of paranoia.
- Paranoid delusions are the result of normal reasoning processes used to generate explanations for anomalous perceptual experiences (e.g. hallucinations).
- Paranoid delusions as the result of a bias in reasoning that causes the subject to jump to incorrect conclusions.
- Paranoid delusions as part of a condition in which the subject is unable to comprehend other people's thoughts, intentions, and beliefs.
Some studies have aimed to determine the basis of paranoia as having a potentially drug-mediated mechanism. The 2004 study of Stefanis et al. specifically focused on dimensions of psychosis as they manifested in a group of early adolescents with cannabis exposure. This study was based on the evidence of cannabis' property of increasing the risk for psychotic disorder and decreasing the quality of prognostic outlook for individuals with established psychotic disorders. The results of this study revealed a positive correlation between cannabis use and all forms of psychosis including paranoia.
Another drug that may increase the user's risk for paranoid symptoms is crystal methamphetamine, as demonstrated in the 2004 study of Urbina and Jones. Urbina and Jones cite a study of 170 methamphetamine abusers who had undergone outpatient treatment; 23% of these individuals reported paranoia immediately after treatment and 7.2% reported paranoia at 2-5 years after treatment).
Perhaps the most frequent cause for paranoid delusions is the presence of schizophrenia or a schizo-affective disorder. In their 2000 study of psychopathological symptoms as they occur in early-onset schizophrenia in children and adolescents, Banaschewski state that age and developmental stage greatly impact the symptomatology as going paranoia and delusions. Banaschewski et al. studied 74 adolescents aged 12 through 22 years who were receiving inpatient treatment for schizophrenia or a schizo-affective disorder. Banaschewski et al. also found that certain symptoms seem more likely to co-occur, such as specific cognitive deficit degrees pertinent to the paranoid versus disorganized subtypes of the schizophrenic population studied.
Discovering the best way to deal with the symptoms of paranoia is dependent on the situational characteristics of the paranoid individual. Those with paranoia as the result of drug abuse will require different treatment than those suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and the paranoia that results from drug use can be a passing or temporary symptom. However, in individuals suffering from schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorders, medication therapy is often suggested as the standard for treating paranoid symptoms.
There are a variety of medications available for the treatment of schizophrenia and paranoid symptoms, including atypical neuroleptics and anti-psychotics. Through the proper diagnosis, treatment, and medication compliance, individuals suffering from paranoia and paranoid delusions can work with their doctor or psychiatrist in order to gain the best treatment outcome possible and decrease the occurrence and severity of their paranoid delusions and thoughts.
Related Research Paper Topic Suggestions
Agoraphobia - Agoraphobia Research Papers look at this anxiety disorder, and what the symptoms may occur.
Antisocial Behavior - Antisocial Behavior research papers discuss the wide range of actions that are disruptive acts characterized by either covert or overt hostility.
Anxiety Disorders - Research papers on Anxiety Disorders discuss the types of psychological disorders characterized by fear and apprehension.
Assessment Instruments of Ocd - Assessment Instruments of OCD research papers can be written from the nursing perspective or from the medical health research point of view.
Childhood Anxiety - Childhood Anxiety research papers discuss the anxieties that develop during a child's development.
Compulsive Buying Disorder - Research papers on compulsive buying disorder discuss the compulsive spending habits of shoppers and what signals their preferences when making material purchases.
Delusional Disorder - Delusional Disorder research papers discuss the rare psychological condition that causes delusions and hallucinations in an individual.
Dissociative Disorders - Dissociative Disorders research papers author the symptoms and signs of the psychological disorder that includes memory loss and identity change. Writing an APA research paper is difficult - get help today.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder research papers overview OCD as a psychological disease that affects many Americans. Research paper Obsessive Compulsive Disorders can be viewed online to create your own custom term paper from.
Ocd - OCD research papers report on the condition of obsessive compulsive disorder in society.
Paranoid Personality Disorder - Paranoid Personality Disorder research papers examine the mental condition that is characterized by a person's overall paranoid feeling toward others.
Paranoid Schizophrenia - Paranoid Schizophrenia research papers discuss the subtype of the mental disorder schizophrenia found in the DSM-5. Research papers on psychology are custom written from Paper Masters.
Reactive Attachment Disorder - Reactive Attachment Disorder research papers examine the severe but rare disorder that affects some children when they develop disturbed and inappropriate ways of interacting with others.
Sad - SAD research papers explain the disorder as a form of depression that is associated with biological rhythms and affects people in a variety of ways. Seasonal Affective Disorder and other psychological disorder research at Paper Masters.
Stress - Stress Research Papers look into the diverse symptoms of stress. Medical and psychology research is custom written.
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder research papers outline the diagnostic information and symptoms of PTSD.
Treating bipolar disorder - Treating Bipolar Disorder research papers show that many treatment models are available for the psychiatric illness. Psychology research papers are custom written for college and university students.