What drugs do you treat Paranoia with?

An anti-anxiety agent, such as diazepam is appropriate to prescribe if the patient suffers from severe anxiety or agitation. An anti-psychotic medication, such as thioridazine or haloperidol, may be prescribed if a patient decompensates into severe agitation or delusionsal thinking which may result in self-harm or harm to others.

Although the patient's functioning may be improved, the paranoid symptoms often remain intact. Some studies indicate that symptoms improve following drug treatment, but the same results sometimes occur among patients who receive a placebo, a "sugar pill" without active ingredients. This finding suggests that in some cases the paranoia diminishes for psychological reasons rather than because of the drug's action.

There are multiple options available in treating someone with paranoia. It is usually treated with antipsychotic drugs which have a tranquillizing effect and aim to reduce paranoid feelings. Other forms of treatment include counseling, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy. Behavior therapy is also an option: it is aimed at reducing sensitivity to criticism and improving social skills. However, it can be difficult to treat a person with paranoia as they may be irritable, emotionally guarded, hostile, and unwilling; therefore, progress is slow. Therapy attempts to break the cycle of suspicion and isolation by using relaxation and anxiety management and by aiding the person to change certain behaviors.