Deconstructing `Paranoia'

Abstract

`Paranoia' is a construct which is currently associated with types of `schizophrenia', `personality disorder' and `delusional disorder' in DSM-IV™ (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). In this paper, the concept of paranoia is deconstructed by examining six dominant and six opposed and subjugated presuppositions within both the psychiatric and abnormal psychology literature. In an argument which aims to provide a positive deconstruction, a discursive approach is suggested as a perspective which transforms these oppositions and enables more creative theorizing.