Ep 31: Paranoia, Paranoid Personality, or Schizophrenia? | Which Is It?
In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack how paranoia, paranoid personalities, and psychotic disorders overlap. We explore the line between personality disorders and psychosis; misuse of the term schizophrenia; and introduce the concept of paraphrenia as it relates to psychosis in the paranoid personality. We also explore the historical context of paranoia, the nuances between paranoia and delusions, and how the terms became so intertwined in history. We end with our own unfiltered thoughts about limitations to DSM diagnostic categories and how paranoia became so confusing!
Are you a clinician stuck on a case? To schedule a consultation, please visit the practice website, which will guide you to the email address to use. https://www.questpsych.org/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Paranoia and Psychosis
02:14 Defining Paranoia
03:15 Sociocultural Paranoia: The Salem Witch Trials
04:22 How Paranoia Leads to Psychosis: A Train Metaphor
06:51 Defining Delusions
08:21 Persecutory Delusions
08:55 Delusions of Grandeur
09:32 Jealous Delusions
10:01 Erotomanic Delusions
12:01 When Paranoia Becomes a Diagnosis
13:14 Paranoia in Personality Disorders
14:34 Wait- Paranoid Schizophrenia is NOT a Diagnosis?!
16:03 Defining Paraphrenia
16:43 Defining Schizophrenia
17:54 How is Paranoid Personality Disorder Different from Schizophrenia?
22:50 The Difference Between Schizophrenia and Paraphrenia
23:11 Confusion in Definitions and DSM Limitations
27:24 Closing
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Ep 30: Paranoid Personality | The 6 Subtypes Explained
In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) continue our discussion about paranoid personality disorder, exploring its three severity levels: Mild, Borderline, and Paraphrenic. We unpack the six subtypes of paranoid personalities as outlined by Dr. Theodore Millon: The Self-Righteous Mistrustful, The Obdurate Mistrustful, the Querulous Paranoid, the Insular Paranoid, the severe Fanatic Paraphrenic, and Malignant Paraphrenic. We highlight the fragility of Paranoids at all levels of severity, noting they can easily deteriorate with stressors and setbacks. We emphasize the importance of understanding these very common personality dynamics in all settings, especially with increasing paranoia in the post-pandemic world.
Are you a clinician stuck on a case? To schedule a consultation, please visit the practice website, which will guide you to the email address to use. www.questpsych.org
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Paranoid Personality Disorder
03:44 Paranoid Personality Disorder Symptoms
06:03 Historical Examples
06:09 Timothy McVeigh - Oklahoma City Bombings
06:36 Richard Farley - Erotomania
07:52 Explaining the 3 Severity Levels
09:30 Mild Paranoid Personalities: Mistrustful Types
10:16 Self-Righteous Subtype
14:28 Obdurate Subtype
17:14 Moderate Paranoid Personalities: Disorder Level
17:44 Querulous Subtype
21:32 Insular Subtype
23:52 Severe Paranoid Personalities: Paraphrenic Level
25:44 Fanatic Subtype
30:57 Malignant Subtype
36:12 Summary & Conclusion
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Ep 29: Paranoid Personality or BPD? | The Unstable Duo
In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) help differentiate between paranoid and borderline personality disorders. We explore the similarities and differences between these two disorders, discussing their core characteristics, emotional responses, symptoms, and how our own intuition helps us more than we realize. We specifically look at the instability unique to these two personality disorders and how both express anger, shame, and fear. As both disorders can have fleeting episodes of psychosis, we also discuss how delusions can show up in each, but how their triggers are vastly different. We further discuss our own personal experiences treating both disorders and ways we use our intuition to guide diagnosis. We end by highlighting the need for empathy in treatment and welcome other providers to reference this information or to contact us directly if in need of a consultation.
To schedule a consultation, please visit the practice website for more information! www.questpsych.org
Chapters
00:00 Intro to Paranoid vs Borderline Personality Disorders
01:59 What is an Unstable Personality Structure?
03:34 Borderline Personality Symptoms Explained
06:50 Paranoid Personality Symptoms Explained
08:30 Comparing and Contrasting BPD and Paranoid PD
08:32 Anger
11:40 Shame
13:03 Fear
14:15 Paranoia & Psychotic Episodes
15:54 Fluidity vs. Rigidity
17:21 Using Intuition with Paranoid and Borderline Personalities
17:35 Dramatic Narratives
19:44 Dependent and Avoidant Attachment Dynamics
23:35 Countertransference
25:20 How they Present to Treatment
26:31 Suicidality & Trauma
28:47 Summary, Learning, and Conclusion
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Ep 28: The Post Pandemic Narcissist | Unmasking Paranoid Personality
In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) reveal the complex, dangerous, and often misdiagnosed Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD). We discuss the rising prevalence of PPD in the post-pandemic world, the clinical challenges in identifying and treating these individuals, and the critical differences between Paranoid Personalities and narcissism. We believe you’re seeing more of these types in your circles as well, and we want you to be equipped with knowledge so you can best protect yourself! Thus, we unpack not only the DSM-5-TR characteristics of Paranoid Personality Disorder, but we also reveal our clinical experience with these types. We include common themes such as: lack of trust, severe gastrointestinal issues, sadomasochism, medical self-sabotage, shedding identities, and the paranoid character’s unique relationship with aggression towards the same-sex. We reveal why we think this type is popping up even more in our circles, what the pandemic had to do with it, and how you can identify these types to keep yourself safe!
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Dangers of the Paranoid Personality
04:10 Clinical Observations & Post-Pandemic Trends
08:20 Defining Paranoid Personality Disorder
16:35 Warning Signs of PPD Beyond the DSM
27:00 Comparing Paranoid Personality and Narcissism
29:25 Why the Post-Pandemic Narcissist?
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Ep 27: What's Worse Than a Narcissist? | The Baddest of Them All
In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unveil the darkest aspects of personality, focusing on narcissism at its most severe forms. We explore the spectrum of personality types that range from mildly unpleasant to dangerously malignant, discussing examples and case studies that illustrate their risk in relationships. We specifically unpack narcissistic and paranoid personality disorders, malignant narcissism, antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy and sociopathy, and sadistic personalities. While further exploring the characteristics, overlaps, and distinctions among these disorders, we end with a discussion about terrorism and extreme manifestations of sadism.
Chapters
01:02 Stone’s Spectrum of Darkness
01:23 Level 1: Negative Traits
04:35 Level 2: Narcissistic & Paranoid Personality Disorders
07:23 Paranoid Personality Disorder
10:48 Level 3: Malignant Narcissism
13:47 Level 4: Antisocial Personality Disorder
15:08 Antisocial vs Narcissistic Personality Disorder
17:24 Antisocial Personality vs Psychopath
18:38 Level 5: Psychopathy
21:27 Level 6: Sadistic Personalities
28:54 Summary & Closing
We all encounter personality conflict on a regular basis, whether we know it or not. From funky, can’t-quite-put-my-finger-on-it dynamics with that one friend or family member, to the big blowup drama at work with the last person you’d expect, it all comes down to personality.
Join clinical psychologists, Dr. Rebecca Houvener, Psy.D, (“Doc Bok”) and Dr. Cheyenne Fisher, Psy.D., (“Doc Fish”) biweekly as they unpack the most complex topics like personality disorders and psychopathic behavior, while also making room for lighthearted discussions about personality typologies and humorous anecdotes from private practice. Whether you’re fascinated by personality darkness, a concerned friend or loved one, an “armchair psychologist,” or a licensed professional convinced there is something more going on with patients…. This show is for you.
Ireland