Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is classified as a type of eccentric personality disorder. People with eccentric personality disorders display behaviors that may seem odd or unusual to others.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) also uses the term cluster A personality disorders to describe eccentric personality disorders like PPD.

An individual with PPD is very suspicious of other people, which may interfere with their daily life and activities. They mistrust the motives of others and believe that others want to harm them.

Additional hallmarks of this condition include:

▪️being reluctant to confide in others
▪️bearing grudges
▪️finding demeaning or threatening subtext in even the most innocent of comments or events
▪️quickly feeling anger and hostility toward others

What are the causes and risk factors?
The cause of PPD is unknown. However, researchers believe that a combination of biological and environmental factors can lead to it. The disorder is present more often in families with a history of schizophrenia and delusional disorder. Early childhood trauma may be a contributing factor as well. Other contributing factors include:
▪️living in a low-income household
▪️being separated or divorced
▪️being widowed
▪️never marrying

What are the symptoms of paranoid personality disorder?

Other symptoms of PPD include:
▪️believing that others have hidden motives or are out to harm them (in other words, experiencing persecutory delusions)
▪️doubting the loyalty of others
▪️having trouble working with others
▪️being hypersensitive to criticism
▪️quickly becoming angry or hostile
▪️becoming detached or socially isolated
▪️being argumentative and defensive
▪️having trouble seeing why their behavior might be a cause for concern
▪️having trouble relaxing

Symptoms of PPD can overlap with symptoms of other mental health disorders. Schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are two conditions with symptoms similar to PPD. As a result, it can be difficult to accurately diagnose these conditions.