Paranoid Schizophrenia

Paranoid Schizophrenia 1

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Christina Lunsford

March 13, 2008

Paranoid Schizophrenia 2

Most psychological disorders are diagnosed because an abnormal behavior is displayed by a person. “Mental health professionals define abnormal behavior as either maladaptive life functioning or serious personal discomfort or both.” (Morris & Maisto, 2002, p485). One type of psychological disorder is Schizophrenia. Paranoid schizophrenia is one schizophrenic disorder. People with paranoid schizophrenia do have behavior that is not often adaptive and can be discomforting. There are many traits that people with paranoid schizophrenia display that can be used to describe the term. To find aid in treating this disorder, the paranoid schizophrenic or family members should seek a proper diagnosis and treatment.

People with paranoid schizophrenia often have delusions and do not trust people or things. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “An individual with paranoid schizophrenia has constant feelings of being watched or persecuted.” (Walden Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 1). Sometimes they even think they are someone else important. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “People with paranoid schizophrenia may believe themselves to be

Napoleon or the Virgin Mary, or they may insist that Russian spies with laser guns

are constantly on their trail because they have learned some great secret.” (Morris & Maisto, 2002, 515). Delusions and hallucinations are the main symptoms of this disorder. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “Perception may become disturbed, the individual may become extremely perplexed, thinking may be vague and obscure, and its expression in speech often becomes incomprehensible.” (Lundenbeck Institute, n.d., para. 2). Sometimes the behavior is not noticed at first. Most of the behavior is not really noticed until the delusions start affecting the paranoid schizophrenic’s life. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “Symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia in the early stages may include social withdrawal, lack of concentration, sleeplessness, tension and a change in personality.” (Walden Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 7).

Paranoid Schizophrenia 3

Psychologists diagnoses paranoid schizophrenia off of different symptoms. “A doctor makes a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia when delusions or hallucinations are present, when other psychotic symptoms are either nonexistent or mild, and when symptoms can't be attributed to another medical or psychiatric disorder.” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2006, para. 19). A doctor has to take in the whole picture and see if the symptoms are more likely to be paranoid schizophrenia than any other disorder, or medical conditions. Most people are diagnosed with the disorder while they are a teenager. (Lundbeck Institute, n.d.) Sometimes people are not diagnosed until they are a young adult. (Walder Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 7).

Once diagnosed, it is important for people with paranoid schizophrenia to be treated. Treatments can vary upon the doctor, but one common treatment is medication. Medication can be used to ease some of the symptoms of the disorder but can not take away all the symptoms. “Anti-psychotic medications can reduce hallucinations and disordered thinking, but do not affect the social withdrawal that is common among those with paranoid schizophrenia.” (Walder Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 12). People with paranoid schizophrenia have to make sure they always take their medicine and never miss a dose. Missing a dose could lead to a re-encounter with delusions or hallucinations. It is important for a person with paranoid schizophrenia to have someone to ensure they take their medicine. “The symptoms of the disease themselves may lead people with the disease to think that nothing is wrong with them or that mental health professionals play some role in perceived persecution