Paranoid schizophrenia: they want to get meIntroductionParanoid schizophrenia is a severe psychotic disorder that alters a person's perception of reality, causing a loss of contact with the mind with reality. world. This disorder greatly affects a person's ability to manage activities of daily living, such as school, work, or social situations. In 1898, Emil Kraepelin was the first to provide information on schizophrenia, naming it “dementia praecox” and defining it as a psychosis with an early onset of intellectual deterioration (Schiffman & Walker, 1998). Ten years later, Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bluler renamed the disorder using a combination of the Greek words “skhizein” and “phren” meaning divided mind (Barlow and Durand, 2011). He believed that unusual behavior constituted a break with the basic functions of personality and reality. Today, there are misconceptions about the term schizophrenia, where society confuses a split mind with a split personality. The broad definition of schizophrenia continues to be studied and narrowed down to subtypes with specific characteristics. Paranoid schizophrenia is one of the five major subtypes listed in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Revised text (DSM-IV-TR), with the list continuing to grow as the criteria identify specific associated symptoms or behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Although this disorder only affects 1% of the total United States population, that represents more than 3 million people living with this disorder. DiagnosisThe diagnosis of this syndrome usually occurs in late adolescence to early adulthood, with the appearance of behaviors marking a deterioration of abilities. ...... middle of paper ....... (2010). The History of Mental Illness: From “Skull Exercises” to “Happiness Pills.” Student Pulse, 02(09), 1-4. Retrieved from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/283/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-drills-to-happy-pillsMaguire, G.A. (2002). Comprehensive understanding of schizophrenia and its treatment. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, 59(5), 4-11. doi: 1079-2082/02/0901 Maguire, National Institute of Health. National Institute of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Schizophrenia (09-3517). Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-booket-2009.pdf Schiffman, J. & Walker, EF (1998) . Schizophrenia. In H. Friedman (Ed.) The Disorders: Specialized Articles from the Encyclopedia of Mental Health. Academic press: New York.