Phenomenological evidence for two types of paranoia.
OBJECTIVE
Two types of paranoia have been identified, namely persecution (or 'Poor Me') paranoia, and punishment (or 'Bad Me') paranoia. This research tests predicted differences in phenomenology--specifically, in person evaluative beliefs, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and anger.


METHODS
Fifty-three people with current paranoid beliefs were classified as Poor Me, Bad Me, or neither (classification was reliable). Key dependent variables were measured.


RESULTS
All predictions were supported, except the one relating to anger, where the two groups did not differ. The Bad Me group had lower self-esteem, more negative self-evaluative thinking, lower negative evaluations about others, higher depression and anxiety. Importantly, the differences in self-esteem and self-evaluations were not fully accounted for by differences in depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Data support the presence of two distinct topographies of paranoia. Future research is needed to explore the theory further and examine clinical implications.
Chadwick
P D J
PD
Royal South Hants Hospital & University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. paul.chadwick@wht.nhs.uk
Trower
P
P
Juusti-Butler
T-M
TM
Maguire
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011678:Punishment; D012649:Self Concept