Personality disorder in which an individual suspect that other person will harm him, is:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Explanation

The question describes the core feature of Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD), which is a pervasive and unfounded suspicion that others are trying to harm, exploit, or deceive the individual.
PPD is classified as a Cluster A personality disorder, characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors.
Unlike mood disorders that affect emotional states, PPD affects an individual's entire pattern of thinking about and relating to others.

Option A: Cyclothymic disorder is a mood disorder, not a personality disorder. Its primary features are chronic, fluctuating moods involving hypomanic and depressive symptoms.
Option B: Hypomanic is a mood state, not a personality disorder. It describes a period of elevated energy and mood that is less severe than mania.
Option C: Melancholic refers to a severe subtype of major depression. Its main symptoms are profound despondency, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), and psychomotor changes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of Paranoid Personality Disorder based on its core symptom as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must use a calm, honest, and non-judgmental approach when caring for patients with PPD to avoid escalating their paranoia and to build a therapeutic alliance.
It is crucial to differentiate between personality disorders and mood disorders, as the treatment approaches (pharmacological and therapeutic) are significantly different.
What if the patient's suspicions were based on reality (e.g., actual abuse or neglect)? In that case, the primary issue would be trauma (e.g., PTSD), not a personality disorder. The nurse's priority would shift to ensuring safety and addressing the trauma.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key symptom described in the question stem: an individual suspects that others will harm them.
Recognize this symptom as a hallmark of paranoia and suspicion.
Next, evaluate the given options in the context of psychiatric diagnoses.
The term 'Paranoid' directly corresponds to the described symptom of pervasive suspicion.
Analyze the other options: 'Cyclothymic,' 'Hypomanic,' and 'Melancholic' are all terms related to mood disorders (Bipolar spectrum and Depression), not personality disorders defined by suspicion. This contrast confirms 'Paranoid' as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of Paranoid Personality Disorder based on its core symptom.
Stem keywords: Personality disorder, suspect, harm
Lead-in keywords: is
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1777-1779, 1782-1784, 1783-1785

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.