Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffParanoid schizophrenia is one of several types of schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness in which reality is interpreted abnormally (psychosis). The classic features of paranoid schizophrenia are having beliefs that have no basis in reality (delusions) and hearing things that aren't real (auditory hallucinations).
With paranoid schizophrenia, your ability to think and function in daily life may be better than with other types of schizophrenia. You may not have as many problems with memory, concentration or dulled emotions. Still, paranoid schizophrenia is a serious, lifelong condition that can lead to many complications, including suicidal behavior. But with effective treatment, you can manage the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia and work toward leading a happier, healthier life.
Symptoms- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Paranoid type. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2008.
- Minzenberg MJ, et al. Schizophrenia. In: Hales RE, et al, eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.; 2008. www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 7, 2008.
- Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-publication.shtml. Accessed Oct. 27, 2008.
- Jibson MD, et al. Schizophrenia and related disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Schizophrenia. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2008.
- Dyer JG, et al. Update on early intervention in schizophrenia. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing. 2008;46:19.
- Turkington D, et al. Cognitive behavior therapy for schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;163:365.
- Treating schizophrenia. A quick reference guide. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
- Schultz SH, et al. Schizophrenia: A review. American Family Physician. 2007;75:1821.
- Treatment of patients with schizophrenia, 2nd ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/. Accessed Dec. 9, 2008.
