Paranoid personality disorder
Paranoia is an irrational fear. It can be caused by psychosis or by certain drugs.
Individuals with paranoid schizophrenia and persecutory delusional disorder experience what is known as persecutory delusions: an irrational, yet unshakable, belief that someone is plotting against them. Paranoid beliefs are prevalent in many individuals and is often the cause of disputes between individuals. The most common cause of paranoia is the use of illegal drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines and cocaine all of these causing mental harm which leads to paranoia[1]. Another cause of paranoia is homosexual fixation where the sufferer represses a tendency to homosexual love to such an extent that a fixation concerning it is developed[2].
As with other mental problems, paranoia may be cured by the suffered recognizing the problem and seeking medical or religious assistance. Treatment can be difficult as the patient often does not trust the carer.
Mass Paranoia
Paranoid delusions may be shared by individuals such as within political movements like the liberal movement, social groups such as gays and national groups such as Middle Easterns. This is known as mass paranoia where the group irrationally believes it is the victim of a conspiracy aimed at its destruction.