Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesExamplesSymptomsCan You Get Rid of Them?TreatmentHow to Help Someone

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Causes

Examples

Symptoms

Can You Get Rid of Them?

Treatment

How to Help Someone

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Paranoid delusions are a symptom ofpsychosis. They involve irrational thoughts and fears that one is being persecuted.A person with paranoid delusions may believe that others are conspiring against them or spreading rumors about them, or even think that their partner has been unfaithful when there’s no proof.

Paranoid delusions can be associated with disorders such asschizophreniaandbipolar disorder.

Paranoid delusions are sometimes considered to be “bizarre” delusions because the content of the delusion can be very strange and completely implausible. This differs from non-bizarre delusions, such as believing that your house might be broken into soon or that someone might want to hurt you.

People with paranoid delusions have an intense, unreasonable mistrust of other people. They typically become angry or hostile when confronted with the truth about their delusions, partly due to a conviction that they are being misled and that others cannot be trusted.

What Causes Paranoid Delusions?

There are various factors that can cause paranoid delusions, such as the following:

Sometimes, paranoid delusions are not linked to another cause and are diagnosed as delusional disorder.But, most of the time paranoid delusions are associated with a primary mental illness.

What Is an Example of a Paranoid Delusion?

There are many types of paranoid delusions.Below are some examples:

What to Know About Fregoli Delusion

What Are the Symptoms of Paranoid Delusions?

There are a number of signs and symptoms that may indicate a loved one is experiencing paranoid delusions:

Can You Get Rid of Paranoid Delusions?

These symptoms are usually best treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy, which is also known as “talk therapy.” With treatment, most people show some improvement in their condition.

Treatment for Paranoid Delusions

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of paranoid delusions, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The earlier they’re diagnosed, the earlier treatment can start. A doctor will use an exam and lab tests to rule out medical conditions that may be causing symptoms.

If paranoid delusions are the result of substance abuse, detoxification may help lessen symptoms. If there’s no clear cause for them and they are not due to drug or alcohol use, you may be diagnosed with a mental health condition such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

If you have paranoid delusions, you may not want to take medication because you don’t believe that your symptoms are due to a mental health condition. You may need to start treatment against your wishes, but only if the safety and well-being of yourself or others are at risk.

You may also be offered counseling to help with underlying problems.This can include talking therapies orfamily therapy. A therapist will work with you to identify the cause of your paranoid delusions and offer tools to cope with them. Therapy can also help improve your mental well-being so that your symptoms are reduced.

How to Help Someone With Paranoid Delusions

If you know someone with paranoid delusions, there are several things you can do to help:

A Word From Verywell

In some cases, this may mean seeking professional advice about how to broach the subject with your loved one. It’s essential to remember that the person isn’t simply choosing to be irrational—there’s an underlying mental illness that needs to be addressed.

15 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arciniegas DB.Psychosis.Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21(3 Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry):715-736. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466662.89908.e7Bebbington P, Freeman D.Transdiagnostic Extension of Delusions: Schizophrenia and Beyond.Schizophr Bull. 2017;43(2):273-282. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw191Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional Themes Across Affective and Non-Affective Psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. Published 2018 Apr 5. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132Smith MJ, Thirthalli J, Abdallah AB, Murray RM, Cottler LB.Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in substance users: a comparison across substances.Compr Psychiatry. 2009;50(3):245-250. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.07.009Veras AB, Souza TG, Ricci TG, et al.Paranoid delusional disorder follows social anxiety disorder in a long-term case series: evolutionary perspective.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015;203(6):477-479. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000311Lindley SE, Carlson E, Sheikh J.Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder.CNS Spectr. 2000;5(9):52-57. doi:10.1017/s1092852900021659Fear C, Sharp H, Healy D.Obsessive-compulsive disorder with delusions.Psychopathology. 2000;33(2):55-61. doi:10.1159/000029121Lee R.Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(2):151-165. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0116-7Joseph SM, Siddiqui W.Delusional Disorder. [Updated 2021 Jul 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Fariba KA, Fawzy F.Delusions. [Updated 2021 Dec 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Ortigue S, Bianchi-Demicheli F.Intention, false beliefs, and delusional jealousy: insights into the right hemisphere from neurological patients and neuroimaging studies.Med Sci Monit. 2011;17(1):RA1-RA11. doi:10.12659/msm.881314Kiran C, Chaudhury S.Understanding delusions.Ind Psychiatry J. 2009;18(1):3-18. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.57851Freeman D, Garety P.Advances in understanding and treating persecutory delusions: a review.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(8):1179-1189. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0928-7Miola A, Salvati B, Sambataro F, Toffanin T.Aripiprazole for the treatment of delusional disorders: A systematic review.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2020;66:34-43. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.06.012Garety P, Ward T, Emsley R, et al.Digitally supported CBT to reduce paranoia and improve reasoning for people with schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis: the SlowMo RCT.Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; August 2021.

15 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arciniegas DB.Psychosis.Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21(3 Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry):715-736. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466662.89908.e7Bebbington P, Freeman D.Transdiagnostic Extension of Delusions: Schizophrenia and Beyond.Schizophr Bull. 2017;43(2):273-282. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw191Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional Themes Across Affective and Non-Affective Psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. Published 2018 Apr 5. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132Smith MJ, Thirthalli J, Abdallah AB, Murray RM, Cottler LB.Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in substance users: a comparison across substances.Compr Psychiatry. 2009;50(3):245-250. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.07.009Veras AB, Souza TG, Ricci TG, et al.Paranoid delusional disorder follows social anxiety disorder in a long-term case series: evolutionary perspective.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015;203(6):477-479. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000311Lindley SE, Carlson E, Sheikh J.Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder.CNS Spectr. 2000;5(9):52-57. doi:10.1017/s1092852900021659Fear C, Sharp H, Healy D.Obsessive-compulsive disorder with delusions.Psychopathology. 2000;33(2):55-61. doi:10.1159/000029121Lee R.Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(2):151-165. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0116-7Joseph SM, Siddiqui W.Delusional Disorder. [Updated 2021 Jul 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Fariba KA, Fawzy F.Delusions. [Updated 2021 Dec 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Ortigue S, Bianchi-Demicheli F.Intention, false beliefs, and delusional jealousy: insights into the right hemisphere from neurological patients and neuroimaging studies.Med Sci Monit. 2011;17(1):RA1-RA11. doi:10.12659/msm.881314Kiran C, Chaudhury S.Understanding delusions.Ind Psychiatry J. 2009;18(1):3-18. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.57851Freeman D, Garety P.Advances in understanding and treating persecutory delusions: a review.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(8):1179-1189. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0928-7Miola A, Salvati B, Sambataro F, Toffanin T.Aripiprazole for the treatment of delusional disorders: A systematic review.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2020;66:34-43. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.06.012Garety P, Ward T, Emsley R, et al.Digitally supported CBT to reduce paranoia and improve reasoning for people with schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis: the SlowMo RCT.Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; August 2021.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Arciniegas DB.Psychosis.Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21(3 Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry):715-736. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466662.89908.e7Bebbington P, Freeman D.Transdiagnostic Extension of Delusions: Schizophrenia and Beyond.Schizophr Bull. 2017;43(2):273-282. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw191Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional Themes Across Affective and Non-Affective Psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. Published 2018 Apr 5. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132Smith MJ, Thirthalli J, Abdallah AB, Murray RM, Cottler LB.Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in substance users: a comparison across substances.Compr Psychiatry. 2009;50(3):245-250. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.07.009Veras AB, Souza TG, Ricci TG, et al.Paranoid delusional disorder follows social anxiety disorder in a long-term case series: evolutionary perspective.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015;203(6):477-479. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000311Lindley SE, Carlson E, Sheikh J.Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder.CNS Spectr. 2000;5(9):52-57. doi:10.1017/s1092852900021659Fear C, Sharp H, Healy D.Obsessive-compulsive disorder with delusions.Psychopathology. 2000;33(2):55-61. doi:10.1159/000029121Lee R.Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(2):151-165. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0116-7Joseph SM, Siddiqui W.Delusional Disorder. [Updated 2021 Jul 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Fariba KA, Fawzy F.Delusions. [Updated 2021 Dec 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Ortigue S, Bianchi-Demicheli F.Intention, false beliefs, and delusional jealousy: insights into the right hemisphere from neurological patients and neuroimaging studies.Med Sci Monit. 2011;17(1):RA1-RA11. doi:10.12659/msm.881314Kiran C, Chaudhury S.Understanding delusions.Ind Psychiatry J. 2009;18(1):3-18. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.57851Freeman D, Garety P.Advances in understanding and treating persecutory delusions: a review.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(8):1179-1189. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0928-7Miola A, Salvati B, Sambataro F, Toffanin T.Aripiprazole for the treatment of delusional disorders: A systematic review.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2020;66:34-43. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.06.012Garety P, Ward T, Emsley R, et al.Digitally supported CBT to reduce paranoia and improve reasoning for people with schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis: the SlowMo RCT.Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; August 2021.

Arciniegas DB.Psychosis.Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21(3 Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry):715-736. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466662.89908.e7

Bebbington P, Freeman D.Transdiagnostic Extension of Delusions: Schizophrenia and Beyond.Schizophr Bull. 2017;43(2):273-282. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw191

Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional Themes Across Affective and Non-Affective Psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. Published 2018 Apr 5. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132

Smith MJ, Thirthalli J, Abdallah AB, Murray RM, Cottler LB.Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in substance users: a comparison across substances.Compr Psychiatry. 2009;50(3):245-250. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.07.009

Veras AB, Souza TG, Ricci TG, et al.Paranoid delusional disorder follows social anxiety disorder in a long-term case series: evolutionary perspective.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015;203(6):477-479. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000311

Lindley SE, Carlson E, Sheikh J.Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder.CNS Spectr. 2000;5(9):52-57. doi:10.1017/s1092852900021659

Fear C, Sharp H, Healy D.Obsessive-compulsive disorder with delusions.Psychopathology. 2000;33(2):55-61. doi:10.1159/000029121

Lee R.Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(2):151-165. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0116-7

Joseph SM, Siddiqui W.Delusional Disorder. [Updated 2021 Jul 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.

Fariba KA, Fawzy F.Delusions. [Updated 2021 Dec 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.

Ortigue S, Bianchi-Demicheli F.Intention, false beliefs, and delusional jealousy: insights into the right hemisphere from neurological patients and neuroimaging studies.Med Sci Monit. 2011;17(1):RA1-RA11. doi:10.12659/msm.881314

Kiran C, Chaudhury S.Understanding delusions.Ind Psychiatry J. 2009;18(1):3-18. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.57851

Freeman D, Garety P.Advances in understanding and treating persecutory delusions: a review.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(8):1179-1189. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0928-7

Miola A, Salvati B, Sambataro F, Toffanin T.Aripiprazole for the treatment of delusional disorders: A systematic review.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2020;66:34-43. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.06.012

Garety P, Ward T, Emsley R, et al.Digitally supported CBT to reduce paranoia and improve reasoning for people with schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis: the SlowMo RCT.Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; August 2021.

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