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Delusional Psychosis in Individuals Diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Study

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Abstract

There is scant knowledge on the presentation of paranoid personality disorder in clinical psychiatric settings. In this study, the charts of 15 consecutive patients diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder were retrospectively analyzed. Information was gathered concerning descriptive behavioral and psychopathological characteristics including occurrence of delusional psychosis. With respect to ICD-10 research criteria, ‘excessive sensitivity’ and ‘self-reference’ were most consistently present. Conversely, ‘suspiciousness’ and ‘jealousy’ were only recorded in half of the individuals. Seven individuals had episodes of delusional psychosis and four others were for periods of time suspected of delusion development. Occurrence of delusions was associated with a prolonged psychiatric course. All individuals had positive depression ratings. Implications for conceptualization of paranoid personality disorder are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The investigation was carried out at the Department of Psychiatry of Svendborg Hospital. Thanks are due to the head of the Department, Gunnar Jessen M.D., who placed the records archives of the institution at disposal.

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  1. Vaengevej 22, 5772, Kvaerndrup, Denmark

    Søren Fryd Birkeland

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  1. Søren Fryd Birkeland
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Correspondence to Søren Fryd Birkeland.

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Birkeland, S.F. Delusional Psychosis in Individuals Diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Study. Curr Psychol 33, 219–228 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-014-9207-8

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