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In this insightful book, the author vividly takes the reader inside the minds of people who are paranoid: experiencing delusions of persecution ranging from thinking others are "out to get" them to falsely believing they have physical illness. Kantor also explains to us other facets of the Paranoid Personality, including suspiciousness, hypersensitivity, extreme vigilance, simmering anger, and a tendency to blame others for and absolve oneself of almost everything. How does such paranoia affect one's life? Whether one is a paranoiac wanting to recover from the emotional disorder, or a person looking for the best way to deal with a paranoid husband, wife, friend, boss, or acquaintance, this book offers understanding and guidance. As Kantor explains, the term "paranoid" should not be used as a hurtful epithet. "Paranoid individuals are no more or less evil than persons with any other emotional disorder, or for that matter, persons with a physical disorder. Paranoia is a disorder of the mind, not a flaw of character," says Kantor. Paranoid individuals are not invariably social misfits. They are found in all walks of life and in all professions, suffering from this disorder that distorts behavior and affects those with whom they come in contact, often in devastating ways. Politicians who write attack ads, spouses who beat or kill their partners, people in road or supermarket rage incidents are all among the possibly paranoid, as are students who perpetrate violence at their schools and fired employees who wreak violence at their former workplaces. Recognizing and treating paranoid behaviors can prevent or reduce antisocial activity and violence against individuals and society.
Show moreIn this insightful book, the author vividly takes the reader inside the minds of people who are paranoid: experiencing delusions of persecution ranging from thinking others are "out to get" them to falsely believing they have physical illness. Kantor also explains to us other facets of the Paranoid Personality, including suspiciousness, hypersensitivity, extreme vigilance, simmering anger, and a tendency to blame others for and absolve oneself of almost everything. How does such paranoia affect one's life? Whether one is a paranoiac wanting to recover from the emotional disorder, or a person looking for the best way to deal with a paranoid husband, wife, friend, boss, or acquaintance, this book offers understanding and guidance. As Kantor explains, the term "paranoid" should not be used as a hurtful epithet. "Paranoid individuals are no more or less evil than persons with any other emotional disorder, or for that matter, persons with a physical disorder. Paranoia is a disorder of the mind, not a flaw of character," says Kantor. Paranoid individuals are not invariably social misfits. They are found in all walks of life and in all professions, suffering from this disorder that distorts behavior and affects those with whom they come in contact, often in devastating ways. Politicians who write attack ads, spouses who beat or kill their partners, people in road or supermarket rage incidents are all among the possibly paranoid, as are students who perpetrate violence at their schools and fired employees who wreak violence at their former workplaces. Recognizing and treating paranoid behaviors can prevent or reduce antisocial activity and violence against individuals and society.
Show moreThe only guide currently available on paranoia, this work offers a method for understanding, coping with, and treating this widespread and neglected condition, which can result in serious social consequences from isolation to violence in schools and the workplace.
Introduction
Description
Some Prominent Characteristics of Paranoid Individuals
Delusional Disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
The Adverse Ways Paranoid Individuals Affect Others
Covert (Hidden) and Missed Paranoia
The Gray Area and the Paranoia of Everyday Life
Interpersonal-Social Aspects of Paranoia/Paranoid Violence
Forensic Issues
Cause
The Roles Society and the Family Play in Causing Paranoia
Psychodynamic Causes
Cognitive-Behavioral Causality
Therapy
Psychodynamic/Interpersonal Approaches
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Affirmative Psychotherapy
Pharmacotherapy
Therapeutic Cautions, Caveats, and Errors
Prognosis
Self-Help
Ways Caretakers Can Deal Effectively with the Paranoid Individuals
in their Lives
Things to Avoid Doing with Paranoid Individuals
Coping with One's Own Paranoia
Martin Kantor, MD is a Harvard psychiatrist who has been in full private practice in Boston and New York City, and active in residency training programs at several hospitals, including Massachusetts General and Beth Israel in New York. He also served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical School and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey—New Jersey Medical School. He is currently a full-time medical author, the author of more than a dozen other books, including Homophobia, Second Edition (Praeger 2009); Uncle Sam's Shame: Inside the Veteran's Administration (Praeger 2008); Lifting the Weight: Understanding Depression in Men: Its Causes and Solutions (Praeger 2007); The Psychopathy of Everyday Life: How Antisocial Personality Disorder Affects All of Us (Praeger, 2006); Understanding Paranoia: A Guide for Professional, Families, and Sufferers (Praeger 2004); Distancing: Avoidant Personality Disorder, Revised and Expanded (Praeger, 2003), Passive-Aggression: A Guide for the Therapist, the Patient, and the Victim (Praeger, 2002), Treating Emotional Disorder in Gay Men (Praeger, 1999), and Homophobia (Praeger, 1998).
As a psychological disorder, paranoia is oddly dualistic:
psychiatrists and psychologists rely on technical definitions for
the mental malady and laypeople have a socially agreed on sense of
it. Readers will see both sides well represented here….This volume
will be most useful for professionals, though faculty and students
will appreciate the rich examples. Recommended. Professionals,
general readers, and comprehensive academic collections.
*Choice*
Kantor assimilates existing texts and states his own views both
firmly and without pretension, an excellent model for teaching and
therapy….Nonprofessional readers will gain an understanding of
psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral diagnosis and treatment,
along with clarification of various syndromes that mimic or
disguise paranoia. Patients, family members, co-workers, and
friends will benefit from practical advice illustrated with
well-chosen examples. A unique treatment; highly recommended for
all psychology collections and larger general libraries.
*Library Journal, Starred Review*
^IUnderstanding Paranoia^R is a collection of narrative accounts
and therapeutic indications for paranoia. It is a good introduction
for people who want information about this disease. It contains
excellent descriptions and categorizations of what delusions
generally are. It is a profitable psychological and clinical essay
for therapists and paranoids themselves.
*Metapsychology*
[T]his book is an important and useful work. It may be particularly
beneficial to laypersons seeking to understand paranoid behavior
and learn more about potential causes and treatments. It will also
be helpful for clinicians who are relatively new to working with
paranoid individuals….[t]his book is a valuable guide to several
aspects of paranoia, and will likely be helpful to many clinicians
sufferers, and family members.
*The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease*
Takes the reader inside the minds of people who are
paranoid-experiencing delusions of persecution ranging from
thinking others are out to get them to falsely believing they have
physical illnesses.
*Foreword*
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