Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)

For individuals suspected of suffering from paranoid personality disorder, the American Psychiatric Association’s (2000) DSM-IV-TR outlines the diagnostic criteria that must be met before a diagnosis of PPD can be assigned. These criteria stipulate that onset occurs by early adulthood, in various settings, and that the individual exhibits patterns of ubiquitous distrust and deviousness of others that are construed as evil, unkind, and spiteful. In addition, the individual must present with at least four or more of the following: (1) suspicion that others are deceptive, manipulative, or are a danger to them without probable cause; (2) preoccupation with unwarranted misgivings about the fidelity of close

Genetics- According to NIMH (nation institute of mental health) BPD is 5X more likely to occur if an immediate family member has it.

Antipsychotic drugs such lithium is one that is commonly prescribed to help reduce anger, threatening behavior, outbursts, and combativeness in ASPD. It alters sodium transport and inhibits neuronal signaling that dials down the activity of hyperactive circuits involved in producing mania (Vallerand, Sanoski, & Deglin, 2017). Lithium dosage is PO in tablets or capsules at 300-600mg TID for adults but precise dosing is based on serum lithium levels. Side effects include polyuria, polydipsia, diarrhea, mild ataxia, leukocytosis, renal toxicity, drowsiness, and weight gain.

Psychotherapy is a treatment option that focuses on helping the individual with ASPD recognize and control his/her behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been known to incorporate cognitive restructuring, behavior modification, exposure, psychoeducation, and skills training to help the individual understand that they are responsible for creating their problems and how their misshapen thoughts prevent them from having positive self-awareness.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often associated with internalized aggressions that manifest in suicidal behaviors or self-mutilation, but can result in impulsive, externalized aggression. When the impulsivity and aggression associated with Borderline Personality Disorder becomes externalized towards others is when it can often also result in violent crimes such as domestic violence, property damage, homicide, rape, etc. Borderline Personality Disorder affects between 1-2% of the general population but can be seen to affect around 30% of inmates. In addition, it has been seen that those with antisocial personality also have borderline personality, close to 57% of offenders who have a diagnosis of borderline personality also meet the

Medicine is not the only way to deal with psychological disorders. Many psychological disorders are better handled with therapy rather than medicine. Therapy is a way to help people with psychological disorders to live a normal lfe no matter what their state of mind of their psychological situation might be. Taking therapy has many good and promising results in the patient. Therapy can teach the patients to get to know themselves deeper and to find out what they are really feeling, what makes them feel of act a certain way and analyze why they respond the way they do. People can learn to not let their psychological disorder take over their lives and affect their relationships with other people. Many have learned how to keep some mental disorders under control just by taking

Paranoia is a problem/disorder that affects an estimated 2.5% of people and affects around 10-30% of psychiatric patients. Paranoia causes people to become more violent and cautious of others around them. People who suffer from paranoia believe everyone is out to get them with no evidence to back up their claims. Paranoid individuals are people who tend to lack social cues and are very prone to avoiding social interactions with people they are suspicious of or just in general. Thoughts of paranoia affect everyone but are the most severe in individuals with paranoid personality disorder. While no one is completely sure as to what affects paranoia, it is believed that the biggest contributors are environmental factors. According to John Mirowsky

Base on the recent studies on diagnosis and the disease cause, the researchers suggest some treatments and self management strategies such as medication, psychodynamic treatment, cognitive and behavioural therapy, and therapeutic communities. Except for medication, the rest of these treatments encounter specific aspects of thoughts, feelings, behaviour or attitude. However, the researchers only succeeded in coping with some short term benefits, the results of long term benefits are still under scrutiny. (Personality disorders - an overview, n.d.)

on the inability to manage emotions effectively. This disorder was only just recognized in 1980

Diagnosis can be difficult in some cases due to the mistrust issue. The client usually does not believe that he or she has a problem. The Therapist or Dr. needs to do a thorough background screening on the client. There are some medications that can prompt paranoia such as: Corticosteroid medications, H-2 blockers, some muscle relaxants, antiviral/anti-Parkinson drugs, some amphetamines (including methylphenidate, or Ritalin), anti-HIV medications, anti-depressants. Abused drugs that can prompt paranoia include alcohol, cocaine, marijuana; ecstasy (MDMA), amphetamines (including Ritalin), LSD, and PCP (angel dust) can all cause paranoia. Withdrawal from addictive drugs can also cause paranoia, and give the impression that there is actually a case of PPD; when in fact complete deco may resolve the issue. Discontinuance of the substance or medication is recommended, and then a diagnosis can accurately be made.

Borderline Personality Disorder is thought to be caused by life events, although there is thought to be a pre-disposition to the disorder in the first place.

Psychotherapy, or "talk therapy", is a way to treat people with a mental disorder by helping them understand their illness. It teaches people strategies and gives them tools to deal with stress and unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps patients manage their symptoms better and function at their best in everyday life.

Family studies have demonstrated that first-degree relatives of borderlines are five times more likely to also fulfill the BPD diagnosis that the general public. Family members of borderlines also are more likely to be diagnosed with related illnesses, especially substances abuse, affective disorders, and antisocial personality disorder. Undoubtedly, genetic contributions- modified by environmental influences- to the development of BPD are dependent on multiple factors and probably engage multiple chromosomal loci (Kreisman, 2004, p. 14).

Treatments include medication, supportive psychotherapy and occasionally ECT. Medications include lithium, anticonvulsant drugs (carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproate (Depakote), gabapentin (Neurontin) and lamotrigine Lamictal), antidepressants (such as bupropion (Wellbutrin)or sertraline (Zoloft)), neuroleptics (e.g. haloperidol) and benzodiazepines (e.g. lorazepam) Treatment choices depend on the

Phoenix is a 28 year old woman who is currently a full-time student and unemployed. She is in a domestic partnership and she has a son, which is not legally her partner’s. She stays at home most days and waits for her son to come home from school and her partner to come home from her job. Phoenix constantly ponders thoughts of her partner’s fidelity to their partnership.