Paranoid and paranoid schizophrenia: features and differences of diseases

Mental disorders have a variety of clinical manifestations. Some diseases are temporary and respond well to treatment once the cause of their occurrence is eliminated. However, in most cases, these malfunctions of higher nervous activity are among chronic lesions that require constant monitoring. Paranoid schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that develops under the influence of many unfavorable factors. The exact nature of the pathology is unknown, but its clinical manifestations are well described.

Causes of paranoid schizophrenia

The main cause of the paranoid type, like all other types of schizophrenia, is considered to be a physiological disorder in the dopamine metabolism system in certain areas of the brain, as well as a genetic predisposition to this disease.

Schizophrenia of the paranoid type can be chronic or episodic in nature with the persistence of primary vivid symptoms (delusions, hallucinations). At the initial stage of the disease, the patient is also withdrawn, experiences attacks of anxiety, suspicion, and various obsessive states. At the clinical stage of development of schizophrenia, the patient exhibits pseudohallucinations, delusions of persecution, and sensations of physical influence, requiring qualified treatment. Alcohol, drugs and other psychotropic drugs are contraindicated for patients with paranoid schizophrenia.

Rehabilitation

If the patient undergoes a successful course of treatment, long-term rehabilitation is indicated. At this time, relatives should be especially attentive to the recovering person. They should have a positive attitude towards him, communicate more often and spend more time with the patient.

Additionally, it is recommended to undergo special training on communication and self-esteem. If desired, you can hire a rehabilitation specialist who will provide the patient with the necessary conditions for recovery while maintaining remission.

Important components of rehabilitation:

1. Nutrition. You need to eat right, making a menu of healthy foods. It is recommended to eat lean fish, lean meat, vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, honey, and foods high in vitamin B.
2. Dream. You should sleep as much as your body requires. If you have problems falling asleep, you should contact your doctor. He will prescribe medications that will help you go to sleep easier.
3. Physical activity. Yoga classes or visiting the pool will help you start living a full life. It is recommended to do this with a trainer so that he provides a sufficient level of safety.

During recovery, you will need to visit your doctor regularly to evaluate your condition. If necessary, he will adjust the prescribed treatment or decide to cancel it completely.

With regular criticism or hostility towards the patient from others, relapses may begin.

Symptoms

There is no diagnosis of “paranoid schizophrenia” - doctors usually talk about paranoid schizophrenia . In this form, in addition to the symptoms common to schizophrenia, there are also very specific ones. A psychiatrist must understand the nuances of diagnosis and treatment.

The main symptoms of this condition:

• delusional ideas of influence, special purpose, jealousy, damage and the evil eye, persecution, relationships and others;
• the most common hallucinations are auditory, threatening, inciting or imperative (commanding) in nature;
• less often hallucinations of other sense organs, the rarest are visual;
• disturbances of emotions and will (coldness, lack of will) can be hidden by a disorder of thinking in the acute period;
• The onset of the disease is usually 20–25 years.

Risk factors for developing the disease

The reasons for the development of all types of schizophrenia are generally the same - genetic predisposition, gene mutation, intrauterine developmental anomalies and fetal hypoxia. It should be noted that the disease can manifest itself even if there are no cases of schizophrenia in the family. The pathology is associated with disturbances in brain function, resulting in an imbalance of mood neurotransmitters. In particular, excess dopamine plays an important role in the development of schizoid disorders.

Risk factors include:

• drug addiction;
• alcoholism;
• frequent stress;
• psychotraumatic situations;
• personality traits.

Thus, paranoid forms of the disorder are faced mainly by people who initially show irritability, impatience and suspicion as character traits.

Since the pathology is considered to be a consequence of a violation of the production of neurotransmitters, the main trigger for the onset of the pathological process is considered to be the use of drugs or alcohol addiction. Among the psychological factors are psychotraumatic situations that happened to the patient in the past, which he was never able to accept and let go, and therefore they become the main ideas of delirium.

Paranoid schizophrenia and delusions

Delusional disorders may be accompanied by hallucinations. This is a distortion of perception when a person perceives something that is not in the real world. The most common are auditory hallucinations: voices that only the person himself hears. They criticize the patient, argue with each other, and are threatening, forcing the person to do what he does not want. If visual hallucinations occur, the patient becomes even more disconnected from reality.

Other mental disorders in paranoid schizophrenia include:

• senestopathy - painful bodily sensations that have no physical basis;
• depersonalization – a disorder of self-perception, with alienation of one’s personality;
• social isolation and withdrawal into one’s inner world;
• emotional inadequacy, anxiety, sleep disturbances and other general mental disorders.

In paranoid schizophrenia, thinking remains intact for a long time. Negative symptoms also develop to a small extent: the will rarely suffers and emotional devastation is practically not expressed. Therefore, this group of patients maintains working capacity and commitment to socially approved actions for a long time: creating a family, having children, and others.

What are the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia in paranoid form is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• auditory hallucinations;
• incomprehensible, inexplicable outbursts of anger;
• manifestations of emotions that are strange to others;
• frequent anxiety states;
• aggressive attitude towards others, which is very clearly manifested in disputes;
• manifestation of violence towards other people;
• excessively inflated self-esteem and arrogant attitude towards others;
• frequently manifested suicidal tendencies, which may be reflected in daily behavior.

Such symptoms and such behavior are typical not only of paranoid schizophrenia.

Differences from other types of schizophrenia may include delusional events and vocal hallucinations visible to the patient.

Patients with paranoid schizophrenia are dangerous to others because, being constantly in their delusional state, they perceive others as enemies and can at any moment take hostile actions towards those who, in their opinion, are plotting against them to cause harm.

Moreover, he will perceive his aggressive actions not as an attack, but as self-defense.

Being in this state, a sick person can harm loved ones and even the most beloved people. A paranoid schizophrenic also poses a serious danger to himself, as he is unable to adequately assess his abilities and capabilities.

He can perceive himself as a person with special talents and is not at all afraid of fire, heights and water. While in a state of paranoid delirium, the patient can calmly jump from a roof or go deep into a river.

He may perceive himself as a fairly famous person or, on the contrary, having convinced himself that one of the fairly famous people would definitely like to get to know him, seek meetings with the object of his interest.

It is impossible to convince a person otherwise. He will treat the words of both doctors and his loved ones with equal distrust. Moreover, the stronger the attempts to convince the patient, the faster these attempts will be perceived as a hostile attitude.

The most striking symptom of a condition such as paranoid schizophrenia is auditory hallucinations that constantly haunt the patient. Moreover, very often such a person is irritated by the fact that, except for him, no one else hears them.

Auditory hallucinations can be expressed either as one voice addressing the patient, or as a whole choir of voices. These sometimes hostile voices can have long conversations, both with the patient and among themselves.

In this case, the patient with paranoid schizophrenia becomes only an outside observer. Most often, voices criticize the patient’s actions, ridicule his appearance, character traits, or his emotional experiences.

Patients with paranoid schizophrenia perceive criticism of their non-existent shortcomings especially painfully. This “criticism” can cause the patient’s condition to worsen sharply. With paranoid schizophrenia, the symptoms of the onset of the disease may go unnoticed by others.

The reasons why a seemingly healthy person suddenly falls into such a state, no one can still say for sure. Although doctors have been researching this disease for quite a long time.

The only theory that scientists have been able to put forward involves the development of a special dysfunction in the brain, which over time leads to such consequences. Moreover, such dysfunction underlies not only paranoid schizophrenia, but also other mental disorders.

Symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia may not appear immediately. It is assumed that such a condition can be provoked by a hereditary factor or changes in the environmental situation in the patient’s place of residence.

But no one has yet been able to prove such assumptions in practice, based on medical histories, much less connect it all with theory. Therefore, these reasons are only speculative.

Features in women

Positive and negative symptoms in women are often associated with complexes about appearance, family and children. Ideas are reflected in the content of hallucinations and delusions. Women often overprotect their children and claim that someone wants to harm them. Sometimes these are vague individuals, but in most cases patients point to relatives, neighbors, ex-spouses, etc. However, some men may also experience similar symptoms.

Symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia

Among the main symptoms of the disease are:

• Auditory hallucinations. It seems to a person that thoughts are being instilled in him at a distance, that pseudo-voices are discussing how he behaves, commenting on his actions. The voice can come from different parts of the body.
• Paranoid syndrome. The patient is tormented by delusional ideas, among which persecution mania prevails. He believes that someone is controlling and manipulating him. Moreover, all pathological feelings and thoughts are as real for him as for a healthy person - the ordinary world.
• The patient suffers from affective disorders. In addition to the fact that a person has obsessive ideas, he can be confident in his own omnipotence, in the fact that he was created to control the world, God, the solar system, etc. These thoughts are often expressed in conversations with other people. The patient claims that he is able to change the climate, make life wonderful, and create heaven on earth. The patient's mood can vary from elated to manic. He believes that he is always at the epicenter of grandiose events, great discoveries.
• Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome is often observed, when the patient believes that someone is controlling and manipulating him. He, in his opinion, is a puppet controlled by higher powers, aliens, etc. He often speaks about this with great conviction.
• Speech disorders and emotional disorders are mild. Sometimes they are completely absent, especially in the initial stages. However, as the disease progresses, emotional and volitional disturbances begin to increase.
• Catatonic symptoms are observed, among which the most noticeable are: affective behavior, silent agitation, catatonic stupor. However, these symptoms are not dominant.
• The patient may also exhibit symptoms characteristic of flattened affect. He becomes insensitive, cold, and does not show any emotion towards the suffering of loved ones.

As for delusions, several varieties are often observed at once, for example, delusions of grandeur are combined with delusions of persecution. Often such patients are incredibly religious.

Features in men

Men are more likely to have ideas of persecution, surveillance and espionage. Sometimes delusions and hallucinations are related to colleagues and work. If a paranoid schizophrenic has a partner, he will suspect his spouse of infidelity. In later stages, a man may try to protect himself from imaginary enemies. This is expressed in the creation of barricades, installation of additional locks, installation of video surveillance, etc.

Symptoms

A doctor can definitely diagnose paranoid schizophrenia only after a comprehensive examination, taking into account the presence of all symptoms. The main signs of a mental disorder in a patient are:

• deprivation of the integrity of mental functions;
• the presence of delusional states and hallucinations;
• disturbances in the area of ​​thinking;
• gradual impoverishment in the emotional and volitional spheres.

Experts include delusions and hallucinations as the main (primary) symptoms of the disease. They appear at different stages of the disease and may differ in severity.

Delusion arises as a result of a person’s distorted perception of the world around him, and consists of a false idea of ​​​​what is happening around him. Most often, this condition manifests itself through the patient’s feeling of persecution. At the same time, the schizophrenic behaves aggressively and hostilely towards others.

A delusional state in paranoid schizophrenia is often accompanied by hallucinations - false or distorted images and phenomena, a deceptive perception of what is happening around. They can be auditory, visual, tactile, etc. The patient hears non-existent voices, which can be both informative and commanding in nature.

Paranoid schizophrenia, aggravated by command-type hallucinations, poses a particular danger to the patient and the people around him.

Delusional states can also manifest themselves through:

• outbreaks of attacks of jealousy;
• pathological, unhealthy love, infatuation or passion;
• delusions of genius and greatness, etc.

Impaired thinking abilities entail a disorder in the functions of the musculoskeletal system. Paranoid schizophrenia in an advanced state leads to gradual degradation, which ends with the complete collapse of the personality. A schizophrenic loses the ability to interact with the world around him, losing all logical ideas about it.

A schizophrenic personality defect, as a result of the patient’s inaction and refusal of therapy, includes a disorder of speech function, decreased initiative, and social activity. It is possible to prevent negative symptoms without allowing the destruction of personality only with the help of a qualified specialist.

The symptoms of such a mental disorder in men and women are not fundamentally different. Family plays an important role in a woman's life. Therefore, her delusional ideas and hallucinations are reflected precisely in this plane. For example, a woman may experience painful experiences due to the fact that she sees a real (in her opinion) threat to the life and health of her child, husband, or close relatives.

In men, signs of paranoid disorder include delusional ideas of espionage and persecution. They may consider their wife’s non-existent lover, colleagues, neighbors, etc. to be “ill-wishers.”

Varieties of flow

There are two types of paranoid schizophrenia, differing in symptoms:

1. First type: delusional . Nonsense of any nature, based on any idea, is considered here. The main thing is that the patient’s ideas about reality are false. The patient often becomes aggressive, but, in general, his emotional reactions are adequate. There are difficulties with clearly formulating and expressing your thoughts.
2. Second type: hallucinatory . The patient hears voices or smells smells that do not exist in reality. Hallucinations of any kind cause a lot of problems in everyday life; a person acquires previously unusual anxiety and suspiciousness. If the disease is not treated, the prognosis for the patient is extremely unfavorable.

Variants of the course of paranoid schizophrenia: continuous type of course, episodic with an increasing defect, episodic with a stable defect, episodic remitting, incomplete remission, complete remission.

Episodic type of paranoid schizophrenia

According to syndromic qualification episodic (remitting) type of schizophrenia (according to ICD-10 F 20.03) most fully corresponds to paroxysmal progressive (fur coat-like) schizophrenia and is characterized by an episodic course with a predominance of paranoid disorders over affective ones.

Clinic

In the pre-manifest period of the disease, atypical depressive states with gloominess, lethargy, and ideational disorders may most often occur. Mild hypomanic states are usually accompanied by psychopathic-like disorders.

The onset of the disease is characterized by different age periods, from childhood to middle age. The manifestation of the process occurs against the background of a sluggish process with the appearance of autochthonous affective fluctuations, unusual for patients and contrasting with the previous, somewhat monotonous, monotonous efficiency. Attacks during the episodic course of the paranoid form of schizophrenia are accompanied by persistent sleep disturbance. The following types of attacks are distinguished:

1. Affective-paranoid attack . The clinical picture of this attack is characterized by poorly systematized interpretive delirium interspersed with periodically occurring episodes of sensory or antagonistic delirium. Delusional content largely depends on the nature of the affect. It is also possible to develop expansive or melancholic paraphrenic symptoms;
2. Affective hallucinatory-paranoid attack . The debut of which is characterized by the manifestation of true hallucinatory symptoms with depressive affect. The clinical picture, as a rule, is dominated by anxiety-agitated depression with fears, which tends to sharply worsen the condition in the evening. Subsequently, it is possible to transform true verbal hallucinosis, with threatening commentary and imperative content, into pseudohallucinosis. As a rule, hallucinosis is accompanied by delusional symptoms.
3. Affective attack with Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome . In the clinic of this type of attack, mental automatisms dominate, manifesting themselves against the background of interpretive delirium, with the further development of other types of delirium (physical, hypnotic and other influences). The structure of delusions mainly depends on the affective background against which it develops. Against a manic background, the nature of the influence has a benevolent connotation. Against a depressive background, delusions are hostile in nature and are often accompanied by the development of pseudohallucinations.

Typically, only some attacks lead to an increase in negative disorders, while others often occur with persistent, but not increasing, negative symptoms. Like the continuous type of paranoid schizophrenia, the episodic type has a different course - from relatively favorable to grossly progressive.

The above types of attacks to some extent reflect differences in the progression of the process. In patients with a mildly progressive course, more favorable trends in the development of the disease are observed. The manifestation of the process, as a rule, is preceded by a long initial period manifested by neurosis-like, paranoid and psychopathic-like symptoms. The first attacks are manifested by affective-delusional, catatonic-paranoid and paranoid symptoms. During the interictal period, neurosis-like or paranoid disorders may still be observed. Repeated attacks, as a rule, occur with a similar clinical picture, without complicating the syndrome.

Characteristic of the episodic type of paranoid schizophrenia, on the one hand, is the presence of signs of a continuously ongoing process, and on the other hand, an affective-delusional pattern of attacks that is simple in structure. The attacks occur with a clear delineation and staged increase in affective-delusional symptoms and faintly outlined schizophrenic personality changes in the form of decreased activity, initiative, interests, and limited contacts. Considering that personality changes develop slowly, they are shallow, there are no pronounced defective or final states, these disorders, in accordance with ICD-10, apparently should be qualified as an episodic type of paranoid schizophrenia with persisting, but not increasing symptoms in remission (according to ICD -10 F 20.02).

With an unfavorable variant of the episodic course of paranoid schizophrenia, an earlier onset of the disease is often observed (11-15 years). According to the syndromic classification, this type of course can be classified as a malignant variant of paroxysmal-progressive schizophrenia . Such premorbid patients are characterized by isolation, suspiciousness, uncertainty, a tendency to fantasize, some of them by psychopathic behavior with conflict and irritability.

Even before the onset of the disease, this category of patients shows signs of social maladjustment. Some of them study in educational institutions or work in ordinary production conditions, another half do not have a specialty, are engaged in unskilled labor or do not work at all. For the majority, initial manifestations are characterized by a drop in mental activity, which results in apathy, poor performance in educational institutions, and lack of interests and hobbies. Against this background, individual vague, rudimentary catatonia, depersonalization, dysmorphophobia and obsessive stereotypy of movements can be identified. Affective disorders are characterized by severe atypia.

The first attacks are often manifested by paranoid and catatonic-paranoid symptoms, with the presence of affective disorders. Subsequent, clearly defined attacks have a more complex clinical picture. The stage-by-stage nature of the development of productive symptoms occurs in parallel with the increase in negative symptoms. After repeated attacks, patients become more and more withdrawn, uncommunicative, and the phenomena of mental infantilism increase.

In accordance with the ICD-10 criteria, these clinical manifestations of schizophrenia can be classified as an episodic type of paranoid schizophrenia with an increase in negative symptoms (according to ICD-10 F 20.01). However, it should be taken into account that even with the most unfavorable course of episodic schizophrenia, it is possible to stop its development and establish a relatively stable remission.

Post-therapy period

After undergoing treatment for paranoid schizophrenia under medical supervision, the person returns home. The methods that are used today to treat paranoid schizophrenia make it possible to restore the level of social involvement as much as possible. The patient will be able to lead a full life if he carefully monitors his own health and regimen. If treatment for paranoid schizophrenia has gone well, such people are similar in the degree of restrictions and responsibilities imposed to patients with diabetes.

But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to restore lost mental balance, and if paranoid schizophrenia has gone too far, then the patient can no longer fully interact with society. The first thing such patients lose is the ability to work, which is associated with the slightest risk to their life. To protect them from danger, such paranoid schizophrenics are given a disability. And sometimes paranoid schizophrenia has progressed so much that the person is declared legally incompetent. Such cases are quite rare, and most often the relatives of patients agree to constant medical supervision.

What is paranoid schizophrenia?

Paranoid schizophrenia is a fairly serious mental disorder that is usually accompanied by suspicion of others. A person begins to hear different voices, his thinking and perception of the surrounding reality completely changes.

In the people around them, those suffering from this disorder see their personal enemies and the enemies of their loved ones.

And in delusional judgments, relatives are sometimes perceived by them as people who want to cause harm. At the same time, patients with paranoid schizophrenia are more responsible and disciplined, which is how the disease manifests itself.

For example, they always pay for travel on public transport and follow traffic rules. They have practically no problems with memory, and outwardly they rarely show increased emotionality. Sometimes it is very difficult for a non-specialist to identify a paranoid schizophrenic in a person.

But based on some signs, it is still possible to conclude that the disease is present. First of all, paranoid schizophrenia manifests itself when describing the patient’s interaction with the outside world. Most often it will be about the ongoing struggle for life in a completely hostile and aggressive environment.

The patient’s entire life is accompanied by daily nightmares, and is interspersed with constantly heard voices and a variety of, sometimes very vivid, visions that haunt the person not in sleep, but in reality.

Diagnostics

Only a psychiatrist can make a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. The specialist must collect the entire medical history and study the patient’s condition. And only after that a verdict is made. Instrumental and laboratory tests are of secondary importance when making a diagnosis. It is necessary to exclude vascular and alcoholic dementia, encephalopathy, and identify possible somatic diseases that can affect the state of the brain.

Diagnosis of paranoid disorder

There are many theories about where this psychopathological condition comes from.
Of course, heredity has a big influence. Twins or twins always have approximately the same degree of paranoia, while in other relatives the manifestations may be insignificant. But still they will be. There are a number of factors that can affect a person’s psycho-emotional level:

• Experienced violence, especially in childhood;
• Excessive demands and/or guardianship on the part of parents;
• Poor relationship with parents;
• Bad habits;
• Negative effects of television: excessive viewing of horror films in emotionally unstable people can cause the development of paranoia;
• Frequent conflict situations;
• Non-recognition of merits and achievements by society.

The paranoid personality type in some cases is a variant of the norm and its symptoms are mild; a favorable environment prevents the development of further mental disorders.

There are expansive and sensitive options:

• Expansive is characterized by: excessive aggression, a tendency to lead, and assertiveness. They themselves create conflict situations and consider everyone to blame except themselves. Their shortcomings go unnoticed, and if the interlocutor points them out, this provokes a new outburst of anger.
• Sensitive. In contrast to the expansive type, such patients are withdrawn, easily offended, suspicious and hypochondriac. Very low self-esteem, love cleanliness and order, do not tolerate conflicts well. Increased demands lead to constant work on oneself, which contributes to the development of constant stress.

Separately, we can distinguish fanatics - adherents of a particular religion or any particular object of the subject. They pay special attention to the object of their adoration and have an unhealthy interest in it.

Delusions of jealousy are common. It is unfounded and, as mentioned earlier, has no particular reason for it. The whole point is that logical chains, which for some reason were not correctly compared in the outside world, are completed in the mind of a paranoid person. Moreover, his thoughts are non-standard, and the distortion of consciousness paints his own picture of the world. Out of jealousy, they are capable of committing crazy acts, in some cases they can resort to radical methods - murder.

Individuals with paranoid personality traits prefer to work alone. Isolation from society and belief only in their own point of view to some extent contribute to such people in achieving their own goals.

Paranoid psychopathy is diagnosed after a medical examination. Single symptoms in no way indicate that a person is sick. But if the clinical picture is persistent and manifests itself over a long period of time in the form of: maladaptation, frequent worries, delusional ideas, immunity to criticism and other symptoms, then this serves as an indication for contacting a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, depending on the manifestations of the disease.

To exclude organic lesions of organs and systems, instrumental and laboratory research methods and consultation with medical specialists may be prescribed. However, almost always such a person is physically healthy and his disorders are observed only in the mental sphere. During a conversation with a patient, one is struck by denial of his condition, distrust of the doctor, reacts violently to some phrases, actively gesticulates and blames everyone for the problems, but not himself.

Treatment

Therapy of the disease is carried out by taking special medications that have a beneficial effect on brain function and relieve acute symptoms of schizophrenia (antipsychotics, sedatives, sleeping pills, antidepressants).

The basis for the treatment of the disease are neuroleptics (Haloperidol, Solian, Rispolept and analogues); these drugs, when taken in a course, can slow down personality deformation in patients.

There are contraindications, you need to consult a specialist!

Thus, treatment of paranoid schizophrenia is carried out in two stages, with the goal of stabilizing the patient’s condition and then maintaining it at the proper level.

Due to the fact that therapy is carried out on an ongoing basis, psychiatrists practice changing tablet forms of antipsychotics to injectable ones and vice versa.

Therapy

Schizophrenia can be treated in several ways. Only the doctor determines which one. It all depends on the stage of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient. The main task during treatment is to regularly take prescribed medications. If you violate the treatment plan, exacerbations of the disease are possible with loss of therapy results.

The main methods of treating paranoid schizophrenia:

• medicinal – antipsychotics, antipsychotics, antidepressants, tranquilizers are prescribed; insulin and lithium carbonate can be used separately;
• psychotherapeutic – the doctor conducts regular conversations with the patient, develops trusting contact, helps him regain the skills necessary for everyday life;
• electroconvulsive therapy - normalization of brain function by passing an electrical discharge through it; this method is used in severe cases with severe symptoms.

Once signs of improvement appear, the patient will require a steady supply of additional medications. They will treat him for several years until the disease goes away completely.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapeutic techniques play a significant role in the cure for paranoid schizophrenia. The specialist must conduct periodic personal sessions with the patient, the purpose of which is not only to monitor his condition, but also to enhance the effectiveness of the therapy.

It is very important that loved ones take part in the patient’s treatment. The main danger of schizophrenia is the patient’s lack of a sober assessment of the situation. A person is not able to realize his condition, therefore he needs sensitive supervision.

Prevention of paranoia

Psychiatrists at Dr. Isaev’s Clinic in Moscow do not guarantee 100% relief from the disease. The patient's health is in his hands. Doctors strongly recommend that you forget about alcohol and drugs. Bad habits only stimulate the development of the disease. The less stress, the lower the risk of relapse. Staying in the fresh air will relieve bad mood and normalize metabolism.

A good self-regulation technique for paranoid personality disorder is to develop the person’s ability to choose a “battlefield.” A person suffering from paranoia must be taught how to use energy rationally and choose really worthy “battles” and “opponents.” People diagnosed with paranoia find it quite difficult not to react to minor insults and insults.

Prevention of psychopathic conditions is nonspecific. Creating harmonious relationships between a person with paranoid disorder and the people around him can improve his condition and prevent the development of mental illness. If there is a predisposition to the development of paranoia, then it is necessary to regularly consult a psychotherapist about establishing the correct picture of the world; in the presence of nervous breakdowns, take medications that have a sedative effect. Obsessive thoughts can be stopped with hypnosis, it gives good results. Doctors give a number of general recommendations:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle;
• Eliminate bad habits;
• Correct and promptly treat concomitant diseases;
• Walk regularly before bed;
• Take vitamin supplements in autumn and spring;
• Do not overexert yourself at work;
• Avoid any conflict situation.

Outcome of the disease

With proper treatment, signs of the disease such as pseudohallucinations or systematic delusions become less pronounced. They are replaced by the symptom of a monologue: the patient answers simple questions with endlessly long phrases. His speech is devoid of any content or meaning, although it remains grammatically correct. A characteristic schizophrenic defect also occurs - irreversible changes in a person’s personality and psyche.

In the absence of adequate therapy, people who have suffered from paranoid schizophrenia for a long time become unemotional and phlegmatic. The scope of their interests is significantly narrowed, the incentives to action are absent or weakly expressed. Over time, the symptoms of the disease worsen, and contact with the real world is completely lost. Often such people are visited by thoughts of suicide and persistent suicidal activity, directed both at the patient himself and at the people around him.

Related posts:

1. Children's fears and their correction - why they arise and how to get rid of them. Fear is a negative emotion that arises in response to a certain...
2. Panic disorder with agoraphobia The onset of a panic attack is often associated with the fear of getting into...
3. Anxiety-panic disorder Anxiety disorder is a collective term that implies disorders...
4. The strangest phobias: types and causes People are born with some congenital phobias, for example, fear of falling. Some…