Paranoid schizophrenia: they want to get me IntroductionParanoid schizophrenia is a serious psychotic disorder that alters a person's perception of reality, causing the mind to lose contact with the real world. This disorder greatly affects the ability to cope with daily life activities, such as school, work or social situations. In 1898, Emil Kraepelin was the first to provide information on schizophrenia, calling it “dementia praecox” and defining it as a psychosis with an early onset of intellectual deterioration (Schiffman & Walker, 1998). Ten years later, a Swiss psychiatrist, Eugen Bluler, renamed the disorder using a combination of the Greek words “skhizein” and “phren” meaning divided mind (Barlow & Durand, 2011). He believed that unusual behaviors were a separation from the core 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 researched and narrowed into subtypes with specific presenting characteristics. Paranoid schizophrenia is one of five major subtypes listed in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Revised text (DSM-IV-TR) with the list continuing to expand as criteria identify specific related symptoms or behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Although this disorder affects only 1% of the total US population, this amounts to over 3 million people living with the disorder. Diagnosis Diagnosis of this syndrome typically occurs in late adolescence to early adulthood with the onset of behaviors that mark a deterioration in abilities ...... middle of paper ....... (2010). The history of mental illness: from "skull drills" to "happy pills". Student Impulse, 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 Institutes 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.pdfSchiffman, J. & Walker, E.F. (1998 ). Schizophrenia. In H. Friedman (ed.) Disorders: Specialized Articles from the Encyclopedia of Mental Health. Academic Press: New York.