paranoia
Meaning of paranoia: Paranoia describes a pervasive pattern of unwarranted suspicion and distrust of others, ranging from a personality trait to a symptom of psychiatric illness.
Definition of paranoia
Paranoia is a pervasive pattern of suspicion and distrust toward other people that is not justified by the actual situation. A person experiencing paranoia may believe, without adequate evidence, that others intend to harm, deceive, or exploit them.
Paranoia exists on a spectrum. In its milder and more longstanding form, it can appear as a personality style, described as paranoid personality disorder. In its more severe form, it can involve fixed false beliefs, called delusions, occurring in conditions such as delusional disorder, schizophrenia, and certain mood disorders, or arising temporarily from substance use or severe sleep deprivation.
Because paranoia can stem from such different underlying causes, its clinical significance depends heavily on its severity, duration, and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms such as hallucinations or disorganized thinking.
Used in a sentence
The patient's paranoia and distrust of family members prompted a psychiatric evaluation.
Good to know
Paranoia is often assumed to always indicate a psychotic disorder, though it can also present as a longstanding personality pattern or a temporary effect of substance use without any accompanying psychosis.
Word origin
Where “paranoia” comes from
Formed from Greek para, meaning beside or beyond, and nous, meaning mind, describing a mind turned beside itself.