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What is a Paranoia Test?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A paranoia test is a screening conducted to see if a patient is experiencing symptoms of paranoia. Paranoid patients experience high levels of anxiety surrounding beliefs that people are out to attack them. A patient may believe, for instance, that there is a conspiracy to murder her or to defame her reputation. Usually, paranoia accompanies a mental health condition such as schizophrenia or paranoid personality disorder and it can be an important criterion for diagnosis.

In a paranoia test, a mental health professional will ask a series of questions to collect information about the patient's state of mind and specific emotions. The questions are framed to avoid upsetting or antagonizing the patient, as this can skew the results in addition to causing emotional distress. For paranoid patients, this can be challenging, as the patient may identify the health care provider as part of a conspiracy and may be reluctant to cooperate, let alone share information considered sensitive and personal.

Paranoid psychosis can cause people to misinterpret their environment and the actions of people around them.
Paranoid psychosis can cause people to misinterpret their environment and the actions of people around them.

Usually, initial questions are designed to disarm the patient, making the person feel more comfortable with the health care provider. The care provider will stress that the goal is to provide assistance to the patient. Then, questions will be asked to determine the patient's level of anxiety and to see what kind of thinking is connected with that anxiety. Questions designed to identify delusions may also be included to collect more information about the origins of the paranoia.

Pananoia typically accompanies a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia.
Pananoia typically accompanies a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia.

While a paranoia test is performed, the care provider will take note of the patient's general condition. Important diagnostic clues can be gleaned by seeing how the patient reacts to questions and interacts with the care provider. The patient may also disclose information about suicidal thoughts and other health concerns that need to be addressed. This information can be combined with interviews from friends and family to construct a more complete view of the patient.

Social isolation may be a symptom of paranoia.
Social isolation may be a symptom of paranoia.

Self-screenings are available for people who want to see if they experience characteristics of paranoia. A number can be found online in the form of short quizzes or simple lists of questions. It is important to be aware that a full paranoia test needs to be conducted by someone with mental health experience and involves not just asking questions, but also observing patients and learning more about the patient through interaction. Usually, multiple sessions are needed to determine a diagnosis, and even more will be required to develop an appropriate treatment plan if the patient has an underlying mental illness. People who get a high score on a paranoia test for self assessment will need to consult a mental health professional for more evaluation.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Rotergirl

@Pippinwhite -- You're right. I got a call from a lady who obviously was upset and said her nephew was listening to her over her microwave and her son was helping him. She also said "they" were trying to have her arrested for prostitution by saying over the PA system at a department store that she is a prostitute. She was really kind of pitiful.

I finally convinced her to call her family doctor and talk to him about what was going on, hoping he would understand something was seriously wrong, and he would get her the help she needed, if any help was available for whatever condition she had. I hope she called him. I never heard back from her.

Pippinwhite

Here's what I've observed about people with paranoia: either their neighbors/family are out to get them, or the government is. Sometimes both. And sometimes, it's because god is giving them secret messages. So often, these delusions involve either religion or the government. I don't know why they fixate on these two themes, but they do. It's almost a diagnostic sure thing.

My sister works in mental health, and she has made the same observations in her clients. God and government are the universally favored subjects of paranoia. It's really strange how that happens, but it does.

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    • Paranoid psychosis can cause people to misinterpret their environment and the actions of people around them.
      Paranoid psychosis can cause people to misinterpret their environment and the actions of people around them.
    • Pananoia typically accompanies a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia.
      By: sebra
      Pananoia typically accompanies a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia.
    • Social isolation may be a symptom of paranoia.
      By: milkovasa
      Social isolation may be a symptom of paranoia.
    • The questions on a paranoia test are meant to avoid sending the patient into a state of emotional distress.
      By: bukovski
      The questions on a paranoia test are meant to avoid sending the patient into a state of emotional distress.
    • Paranoid patients will experience high levels of anxiety.
      By: nixoncreative
      Paranoid patients will experience high levels of anxiety.
    • Individuals suffering with schizophrenia may experience paranoia and inappropriate emotional responses.
      By: Scott Griessel
      Individuals suffering with schizophrenia may experience paranoia and inappropriate emotional responses.