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Suggest Treatment For Paranoid Personality Disorder

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Posted on Thu, 2 Feb 2017
Question: Does my mother have Paranoid Personality Disorder?
I've put symptoms and examples below:

- Speciousness - Example, neighbour brings bin around to help, she thinks it is being done on purpose for the neighbour to make a point. Another time, pet rabbit died at her mothers, she had a biopsy as she believed her mother purposely killed it somehow. Etc.
- Magical Thinking (think she can predict future events)
- Rages (manipulation anger, rare, but I've seen multiple times)
- Grudges (will not let things go, and cannot accept blame)
- No friends and no relation with family anymore.
- OCD - Obsessive with food and cleaning.
- Can't accept much criticism - can lead to rage over little small things.
- Everyone else is to blame, not her.
- Controlling
- Crude - says things that most wouldn't (I wish she would die soon, then our plans will be better with the money she is leaving)
- Low empathy

Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Possibly Paranoid/Possibly Normal/Other Possibilities

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There can be a variety of descriptions and rationales for these behaviors not necessarily limited to Paranoid Personality Disorder.

It seems your mother may either have characteristics of a Paranoid individual or depending on the severity can certainly have the disorder, but the most important question is; it enough that it is severely limiting her interactions in life ?

Other components and behavioral disorders come to mind; and to truly diagnose your mother; I would need a more in depth personal experience and or history from her perspective. The aspects you listed could be anyone and everyone to some degree. Furthermore some of these aspects revolve around age related brain changes.

While these behaviors are normal to a certain degree, it all depends on the severity and how much of an interference it is in her life (interfering with health, relationships, job ? ) and those around her.

If the answer is SERIOUSLY; then a consultation or visit with a psychologist/psychiatrist for help may be needed; based of course on her approval.

Feel free to ask further
Regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Rahul Tawde (1 hour later)
Thanks for the reply. I am very keen to get a good idea surrounding exactly what it is she suffers from - as she has been to a variety of therapists and they apparently diagnosed her with OCD, but I believe it is more than this and she has missed key things out. I will attempt to describe her behaviours that I have witnessed growing up below.

I’ve witnessed rages growing up. She has smashed a gaming console up that my dad purchased because she hated the size of it. I’ve seen her attempt to grab the steering wheel when I was a passenger in the back – she was raging about something.

Raging has been something I’ve seen, but many others haven’t. My dad has a weak personality and was unable to control the behaviour. She was an alcoholic when younger, but quit after I was born. She has eventually fallen out with her family and blames them for her problems. She doesn’t have any friends. She finds it extremely hard to forgive people, expects them to apologise, but she never can – everyone else is at fault – never her.

When she rages, she turns into a monster who manipulates, is nasty, can name call, talks like a child, is aggressive, and totally nasty. The rage isn’t something I see often, but it is normally sparked by her family or a subtle insult (I told her not to butt in when I was talking to my dad, which she did rudely last year) – She then left the room, the next day I said that I thought she might apologise – and that was it – RAGE. “How dear you!”, “Why does everyone blame me” etc. Only me and my father have truly witnessed a rage, although her mother has partly once too. Eyes glaring, she will reflect her behaviour on to me claiming it is me raging and hard eyes, even though I am standing saying next to nothing. She will come up to you, slam doors, etc. – she has never physically harmed me, but wants to provoke emotionally. All in all, rages don’t happen often, but when they do, they are explosive.

Revengeful – she is very revengeful once a grudge is formed on her part. I’ve heard her say things like if I had cancer id get a gun and kill her family (not me).

Suspiciousness. Her mother looked at the pets for a while and they were around the age to pass, but my mother believed her mother purposely harmed them, she had an autopsy. The neighbour didn’t send a Christmas card one year, so she must have been doing it on purpose. She went on the bus, and the bus driver was sharp with her “sounded like sarcasm to me”.

She lacks empathy and lives horror movies, I guess the two go hand in hand? Ha! Anyway, she will say things that are somewhat crude and heartless. For example, apparently, once when I was younger she said in front of me and my uncle that she preferred the pet dog. My dad’s mother is 92 and leaving money, my mother says she wishes she’d hurry up and pass.

Magical thinking – last night she was claiming she has had dreams and they are coming true. She went on to say either her, my dad or I would die this year and she is sure of it according to her dreams and that it will probably be her. She kept on about this yesterday and said she doesn’t normally mention this since people think she is crazy.

OCD – obsessive and controlling with her food (finds it hard to eat most foods) and struggles with calorie counting. Likes to clean too much and can’t rest when leaving the home and going on holiday.

She does not boast about achievements (that is more my dad), and doesn’t brag about herself. She actually is the opposite and makes out she hasn’t achieved much.

If this isn’t enough, be sure to ask me more questions, I’m happy to answer. I just want to understand the condition she has. I’ve discussed with her at times when possible, and she claims she is unhappy.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
I've gone your descriptions in details,

I suggest you follow up with an appointment with either a psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist as they can better assess the social aspects of the situation in person that you are going through.

Your primary care physician may have references. Unfortunately when it comes to issues like this, a more thorough examination and prolonged in person discussion needs to be done.

Kind regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Rahul Tawde (17 minutes later)
This will not be a possible option as stated. This is why I am seeking advice from here regarding what this is likely to be.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
My apologies

Detailed Answer:
I believe that many of these behavorios overlap, and a "Diagnosis" or label may be detremental to both yourself and your mother. No one is ONE thing when it comes to psychiatric and behavioral issues. There is much more gray, mixing and matching.

Also many disorders, such as OCD, contain behaviors from spectrums of many different psychiatric conditions (Rage, Paranoia : all can result from OCD if severe enough). For other patients, there is such paranoia, that it causes OCD like behavior and rage. As you can see the complexity and overlapping is quite difficult to assess; and as I stated before LABELING, particularly since we are all individuals, may be more hurtful than it is helpful.

In truth; I do believe a lot of this stems from OCD, rage, paranoia, behaviors that result from some imperfection that your mother perceives. Her way at correcting these imperfections is in a chaotic means, but it still nonetheless may stem from an obsession or compulsion towards certain things nonetheless.

I apologize for answering in what could be perceived as a thoughtless manner; I just understand the true unique nature of every patient. What I can tell you is that Anti-Depressants and Cognitive Behavioral therapy do magic in terms of an individual identifying their behaviors and attempting to fix them.

The key however is to discover if your mother is willing to admit that she is wrong, and or inflicting hurt on those she loves (you). I hope this advice and or insight helps with some of the insight you are seeking.

Kind regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Rahul Tawde (9 minutes later)
Thanks for the reply.
I know when I witnessed the previous rage as an adult and not a child, after looking up, I instantly got 'narcissism' since this is common with that condition. But I later learnt that it is also present within PPD and borderline personality.

I worried my mother suffered from narcissism, but I think you will probably agree - it isn't that?

From what you think, it seems that it is a mix of OCD with paranoia?

Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
YES

My Best Wishes

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Rahul Tawde

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1980

Answered : 1 Question

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Suggest Treatment For Paranoid Personality Disorder

Brief Answer: Possibly Paranoid/Possibly Normal/Other Possibilities Detailed Answer: Hi, There can be a variety of descriptions and rationales for these behaviors not necessarily limited to Paranoid Personality Disorder. It seems your mother may either have characteristics of a Paranoid individual or depending on the severity can certainly have the disorder, but the most important question is; it enough that it is severely limiting her interactions in life ? Other components and behavioral disorders come to mind; and to truly diagnose your mother; I would need a more in depth personal experience and or history from her perspective. The aspects you listed could be anyone and everyone to some degree. Furthermore some of these aspects revolve around age related brain changes. While these behaviors are normal to a certain degree, it all depends on the severity and how much of an interference it is in her life (interfering with health, relationships, job ? ) and those around her. If the answer is SERIOUSLY; then a consultation or visit with a psychologist/psychiatrist for help may be needed; based of course on her approval. Feel free to ask further Regards