Paranoid personality disorder

This code represents a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent. Individuals with this disorder often believe others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving them, even without sufficient evidence. These beliefs are not delusional in intensity but are persistent and significantly impair social and occupational functioning.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder based on established diagnostic criteria. This includes pervasive patterns of distrust, suspicion, and misinterpretation of others' intentions. Supporting documentation should detail at least four of the characteristic symptoms, such as unjustified doubts about loyalty, reluctance to confide, or persistent grudges.

• Differentiate from paranoid schizophrenia (295.3x) where delusions are typically more bizarre and fixed.
• Ensure the diagnosis specifies "personality disorder" to avoid confusion with transient paranoid ideation.
• This code is typically a primary diagnosis for mental health encounters focused on personality disorder management.