Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

The word ''paranoia'' comes from the [[Greek]] "παράνοια" (paranoia), "madness" and that from "παρά" (''para''), "beside, by" + "νόος" (''noos''), "mind".

The word ''paranoia'' comes from the [[Greek]] "παράνοια" (paranoia), "madness" and that from "παρά" (''para''), "beside, by" + "νόος" (''noos''), "mind".

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1811]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1811]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis psychosis] characterized by systematized [[delusions]] of [[persecution]] or grandeur usually without [[hallucinations]]

*1: a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis psychosis] characterized by systematized [[delusions]] of [[persecution]] or grandeur usually without [[hallucinations]]

*2: a tendency on the part of an [[individual]] or [[group]] toward excessive or irrational [[Suspicion|suspiciousness]] and distrustfulness of others  

*2: a tendency on the part of an [[individual]] or [[group]] toward excessive or irrational [[Suspicion|suspiciousness]] and distrustfulness of others  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Paranoia''' is a [[thought]] [[process]] believed to be heavily [[influenced]] by [[anxiety]] or [[fear]], often to the point of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrationality irrationality] and [[delusion]]. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory [[beliefs]], or beliefs of [[conspiracy]] concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. Making [[false]] [[accusations]] and the general distrust of others also frequently accompany paranoia. For example, an incident most people would view as an [[accident]], a paranoid person might make an accusation that it was [[intentional]].

'''Paranoia''' is a [[thought]] [[process]] believed to be heavily [[influenced]] by [[anxiety]] or [[fear]], often to the point of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrationality irrationality] and [[delusion]]. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory [[beliefs]], or beliefs of [[conspiracy]] concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. Making [[false]] [[accusations]] and the general distrust of others also frequently accompany paranoia. For example, an incident most people would view as an [[accident]], a paranoid person might make an accusation that it was [[intentional]].

Historically, this characterization was used to [[describe]] any [[delusional]] state. In modern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquial colloquial] use, the term "paranoia" is sometimes misused to describe a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobia phobia]. The general lack of blame in phobia disorders sharply differentiates the two. In other [[words]], fearing that something bad or harmful might happen does not in itself imply paranoia. Rather, with paranoia there is an irrational [[fear]] of malice by others (excepting rare cases of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia schizophrenia]).

Historically, this characterization was used to [[describe]] any [[delusional]] state. In modern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquial colloquial] use, the term "paranoia" is sometimes misused to describe a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobia phobia]. The general lack of blame in phobia disorders sharply differentiates the two. In other [[words]], fearing that something bad or harmful might happen does not in itself imply paranoia. Rather, with paranoia there is an irrational [[fear]] of malice by others (excepting rare cases of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia schizophrenia]).

The term was used to describe a mental illness in which a [[delusional]] [[belief]] is the sole or most prominent feature. In an original attempt at classifying different forms of mental illness, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Kraepelin Kraepelin] used the term pure paranoia to describe a condition where a [[delusion]] was present, but without any apparent deterioration in [[intellectual]] abilities and without any of the other features of ''dementia praecox'', the condition later renamed "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia schizophrenia]". Notably, in his definition, the [[belief]] does not have to be persecutory to be classified as paranoid, so any number of delusional [[beliefs]] can be classified as paranoia. For example, a person who has the sole delusional belief that he is an important religious figure would be classified by Kraepelin as having 'pure paranoia'. According to Phelan, M. Padraig, W. Stern, J (2000)[4] paranoia and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraphrenia paraphrenia] are debated [[entities]] that were detached from ''dementia praecox'' by Kraepelin, who [[explained]] paranoia as a continuous systematized [[delusion]] arising much later in life with no presence of either [[hallucinations]] or a deteriorating course, paraphrenia as an identical syndrome to paranoia but with hallucinations. Even at the present time, a [[delusion]] need not be [[suspicious]] or [[fearful]] to be classified as paranoid. A person might be [[diagnosed]] as a paranoid schizophrenic without [[delusions]] of [[persecution]], simply because their delusions refer mainly to themselves.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia]

The term was used to describe a mental illness in which a [[delusional]] [[belief]] is the sole or most prominent feature. In an original attempt at classifying different forms of mental illness, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Kraepelin Kraepelin] used the term pure paranoia to describe a condition where a [[delusion]] was present, but without any apparent deterioration in [[intellectual]] abilities and without any of the other features of ''dementia praecox'', the condition later renamed "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia schizophrenia]". Notably, in his definition, the [[belief]] does not have to be persecutory to be classified as paranoid, so any number of delusional [[beliefs]] can be classified as paranoia. For example, a person who has the sole delusional belief that he is an important religious figure would be classified by Kraepelin as having 'pure paranoia'. According to Phelan, M. Padraig, W. Stern, J (2000)[4] paranoia and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraphrenia paraphrenia] are debated [[entities]] that were detached from ''dementia praecox'' by Kraepelin, who [[explained]] paranoia as a continuous systematized [[delusion]] arising much later in life with no presence of either [[hallucinations]] or a deteriorating course, paraphrenia as an identical syndrome to paranoia but with hallucinations. Even at the present time, a [[delusion]] need not be [[suspicious]] or [[fearful]] to be classified as paranoid. A person might be [[diagnosed]] as a paranoid schizophrenic without [[delusions]] of [[persecution]], simply because their delusions refer mainly to themselves.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia]

[[Category: Psychology]]

[[Category: Psychology]]