paranoia

(par″ă-noy′ă)

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[para- + Gr. nous, mind + -ia]
A condition in which patients show persistent persecutory delusions or delusional jealousy. The disorder must last at least 1 week. It may be accompanied by delusional jealousy or by symptoms of schizophrenia, e.g., bizarre delusions or incoherence. There are no prominent hallucinations; a full depressive or manic syndrome is either absent or brief. The illness is not due to organic disease of the brain.
SYN: SEE: paranoid disorder; SEE: paranoid ideation
SEE: paranoid reaction type
This disorder, which usually occurs in middle or late adult life and may be chronic, often includes resentment and anger that may lead to violence. Paranoid people rarely seek medical attention but are brought for care by associates or relatives.

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