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Personality

Paranoid personality disorder

Widespread distrust and suspicion: tendency to interpret others' intentions as malicious.

Common signs

Distrusts others for no reasonHolds grudgesFinds it hard to trust anyone

Tips

For you

  1. Therapy built on a trusting relationship
  2. Check interpretations against facts
  3. Work on the anxiety behind it

For family and friends

  1. Be clear, consistent and do what you say
  2. Avoid ambiguous jokes

When to ask for help

  1. If the distrust causes serious conflicts
  2. If intense persecutory ideas appear

Guidance test

Answer thinking about the last few weeks. There are 8 questions and you get your result straight away. Your answers are not saved or sent.

0 of 8
1. I suspect others want to take advantage of me
2. I find it hard to trust others
3. I doubt the loyalty of friends or my partner
4. I find it hard to share personal things
5. I see hidden intentions in innocent comments
6. I hold grudges for a long time
7. I react angrily if I feel attacked
8. This causes me conflicts

Free resources

Downloadable PDF sheetSigns, tips and resources to print or saveConfederación SALUD MENTAL ESPAÑA (Spanish mental health confederation)Free external resourceAll our free guidesFree resource from Clínica Vivaldi

Related disorders

Schizoid personality disorderPersonalitySchizotypal personality disorderPersonalityAntisocial personality disorderPersonalityBorderline personality disorder (BPD)Personality

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Reviewed by María Teresa Fernández Vicente, health psychologist and neuropsychologist (registration no. CV17304), in November 2026. Educational information prepared by the Clínica Vivaldi team based on the DSM-5-TR classification. It does not replace a professional assessment and cannot be used to diagnose.