Personality Quizzes

I've always found paranoia to be a perfectly defensible position. -- Pat Conroy

Personality disorders can be very distressful to the individuals who suffer from the disorders. Nonetheless, family and friends are usually the ones complaining. Please understand, people do not choose to have a personality disorder, though the reality is-- their behavior and attitudes can be painfully difficult to understand and accept. This can be especially true with Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD). I would be surprised if many of individuals with PPD seek counseling. It is highly improbable, unless someone in their environment is persistently and persuasively pushing them to "talk to someone." Individuals with PPD are not likely to trust a therapist or the person pushing him or her to see a therapist.

According to the DSM IV, "Their excessive suspiciousness and hostility may be expressed in overt argumentativeness, in recurrent complaining, or by quiet, apparently hostile aloofness" (DSM IV, 1996, p.635). They may appear cold, lacking in emotions, secretive and guarded.

Individuals with PPD make up approximately 0.5% of 2.5% of the general population. Consequently, if after you read this, you start seeing them under every shrub and behind every door, it is just the "New Therapist Syndrome" - or you are living in a bizarre neighborhood. Or, perhaps reading about the personality disorders has made you paranoid. The New Therapist Syndrome strikes after we read too much about psychopathology. While working on my Master's at the Citadel in Charleston, I took an Abnormal Psychology class. By the end of the semester, I was convinced that I had several serious and ineffably fatal disorders AND my friends were more psychotic than I. Don't worry, this passes with time. Though to tell you the truth (our secret—quiet—people are listening), I still have suspicions about a few of my friends, especially the cop and the minister.

The personality and belief patterns listed below are those likely to be noticed in a person with Paranoid Personality Disorder. They must have had these symptoms since early adulthood, and the symptoms must be present in a variety of contents.

• January 22, 2009, 10:00 am - Dot Andrew My husband left me after 38 years of marriage giving me no reason. He had always been suspicious of my behaviour/faithfulness and often took offence at things I said. All of this was related to me. Other people find him good company. He scored 7 on the PPD test. I guess we'll never get back together as he has more recently said he feels I have messed up his life in every possible way. It sucks!
• January 28, 2009, 10:00 pm - M.K. I have a coworker who scored a 5. She saw some of us laughing and one with an upset look on her face and she went around to everybody asking if we were mad or laughing at her. She even went so far as to go and tell the boss. Everyone told her the same thing, IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. We were just told about an extra workload we had to start doing and one person was very upset and I tried to laugh and say that it was going to be ok. The not so funny thing is, she told everyone she was getting divorced because her husband was cheating her. Maybe he really was, but now after reading this, maybe he wasn't and she was just paranoid!
• January 29, 2009, 3:58 pm - Dr. Dorothy Paranoia is a distressing disorder for the person who suffers from it and for his or her friends and family. Naturally, only an experienced clinician can diagnose this condition. However, even a few of the symptoms can certainly complicate one's life. After awhile a paranoid individual may not trust anyone. Because of this, paranoia can lead to loneliness--that is very sad.
• February 6, 2009, 4:44 pm - Patricia I can not tell you how painful and frusting it is to be the child of a parent with PPD. As an only child, I have no sibling support and my father has dealt with for over 55 years of marriage. The disorder seems to get worse with age and I wonder how much worse it will become. My mother also has panic attacks and rarely leaves the home. She has several siblings that she will not speak to and often will not speak with me either due to her paranoia. I offer my love and support but it is not always accepted. Very difficult situation.
• March 14, 2009, 2:40 pm - BonnieK In response to Patricia:
  I, too, have a parent like this (62 yrs old). As she grows older, her PPD renders her holed up in her house and wary of communicating with family or friends. The sad thing is, I cannot help or intervene on her behalf until something really bad happens and a court determines her mentally incapacitated. At that point (so I've been told), it's even possible that adult children could be blamed and held liable for not stepping in sooner. Damned if we do, damned if we don't, I guess? I am truly sorry for your (and your parent's) pain and suffering. In this day and age, emotional problems are starting to seem like the rule rather than the exception. Best of luck, and know that you are not alone in these tribulations.
• March 23, 2009, 1:17 pm - mary my father has this kind of personality, he's 67 now. you grow up always with the fear of saying something that might make him defensive or angry. he thinks you're always against him, no matter what you say. you grow up with anxiety, it's nerve-wracking.
• March 24, 2009, 4:00 pm - Dr. Dorothy A parent who has a "you better walk on egg shells" attitude is a challenge. Children are at a power disadvantage. Naturally, in these situations many children grow up reluctant to express their views and concerns. This can be a issue if it follows them into adult life. However, it does not have to be.
• March 31, 2009, 10:01 pm - Quinn This sounds exactly like my brother. He can't hold down a job, has few friends, hasn't had a long term romantic relationship in the past ten years and gets into arguments and altercations frequently, even with strangers. Everywhere he goes he believes others are making fun of him. I've tried repeatedly to get him to talk to a therapist, but he refuses and then we fight. He's in his thirties now and has been like this since he was about eighteen. His life is in complete chaos, but cannot see that he is the cause of his own problems and I don't know what to do.
• April 1, 2009, 2:27 pm - kg I have been dating off and on a guy who scored a ten. I am not the type of female to put up with a lot of bs, so when he starts in with his negativity and weirdness, I tell him he's got to go. Sometimes I won't even talk to him on the phone if he starts in with his blaming everyone for his lack of success. He knows now (because I am honest) that he is not the only guy I am with...and that reason is because I cannot trust his irrational behavior. Often times in a restaurant he will get angry for no reason and leave. Usually, I am with friends so I don't care, or I will call other friends to meet me. This irritates him that I can so easily socialize and don't need him, but it has also forced him to at least behave a lot better, especially in public, than he used to. I might hang out with him sometimes, but I will never have a serious relationship with him. The weird thing is he can be so sweet sometimes and he is very good when it comes to sex. That's the main reason I hang around at all.
• April 2, 2009, 1:33 pm - Dr. Dorothy Quinn, If--and that is a big "if" we have a family member who is overly suspicious--it can be quite frustrating. Arguing, pleading, and suggesting don't seem to work well--most of the time.
  It is up to the person to decide what he or she will do with his or her life. No matter how much we love someone, we only have as much power to persuade as they give to us. Sometimes we cannot help, no matter how much we want to--other than just being there--and that is quite valuable in itself.
  
• April 14, 2009, 9:21 am - SJG I am just discovering paranoid personality disorder. Unfortunately, it is something that my significant other has suffered from for at least the sixteen years we have been together. He scored a seven out of seven. He has finally succeeded in driving me away, as his distrust and the almost constant accusations of being with other men has ruined the relationship. I am at the end of my very short leash. Calling every day at the same time to make sure he knows where I am has become burdensome. I'm just saying ENOUGH!
• July 29, 2009, 10:35 am - Sienna I found this site looking to see if my husband needs help. 6 out of 7 questions related to him. He's not particulalry jealous but everything else could have been taylored for him. We have been married for 3.5 years and I love him so much. I am very worried because his anger and distrust for everyone and for many "institutions" is hurting our marriage. I want to help him, but live my life on eggshells because I never know what will set him off. I'm afraid to talk to him about everyday, mundane things like going somewhere with my parents because I just don't which side of his personality will manifest. When he gets angry with me, nothing I say is good enough and he will hold a grudge for days on end, not speaking to me unless necessary, etc. We have a 2 year-old-daughter he cares for while I work but I worry of the effect of his mental state on her. She is senstive and KNOWS when something isn't right at home. I don't know what to do. I fear confronting him with my idea that he needs help, because he'll just think I am (yet again) out to get him.
• August 22, 2009, 7:56 pm - AB What is the solution? How can you get help for a parent that does not realize that they have a problem?
• August 25, 2009, 12:09 pm - Dr. Dorothy You cannot. You can talk to your parent and hope that he or she will listen. Your changes of succeeding are not particularly. However, if you don't try your changes are nil. People don't make changes unless they see a very good reason to do so. In the mean time, remember you have a life to live -- live it well.
• November 21, 2009, 12:14 am - Robyn My mother is 81 and was physically and verbally abusive to me and my sisters as a child. I don't know that she has PPD, but most of the symptoms seem to fit. What are the chances that she will be physically abusive (she is still verbally abusive) as she gets older? She threatens me and I interrupted her from hitting my grandson. How much danger does someone with this condition present?
• November 21, 2009, 12:52 pm - Dr. Dorothy From what you have told me, your mother has been abusive for many years and that has not changed as she moved into her senior years. Some individuals mellow as they mature others simply intensify lifelong aggressive behaviors. If possible, accompany your mother when she visits her physician. Perhaps her physician can make some suggestions. In the meantime, be very cautious --especially when children are present.
  I wish you well. You have had a long, difficult journey --and it continues. Hugs to you and your family as you struggle to help your mother.
• May 22, 2010, 9:44 am - Someone i scored a 6 im really scared :/