Reader’s Question

What do you call a person that is constantly thinking that you took something from them. Is it a disorder?

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

There’s not a lot of information in your question. Took what — money, lawnmower, food, drugs, etc.? What age is the individual? What’s your relationship to them? Have you taken something from them in the past?

In general, let’s assume that you have never taken anything from them. We can imagine a scale of suspiciousness from one to seven. At the low end we have people who are naive and feel everyone is honest, all politicians are honest, and you can actually purchase the Tower of London on a sidewalk. For example (Low to High):

1. Near totally naive — overly trusting of everyone. Very few defenses and cautions.
2. Easy-going — generally trusting yet knows there are con artists and thieves in the world.
3. Normal suspiciousness — aware of the threats in their environment, calm in the home yet more alert in public and very alert walking home on a dark street.
4. Cynical — history of being taken advantage of, suspicious of strangers, negative view of the world, distrusting of most people
5. Paranoid Personality — chip-on-the-shoulder, feels everyone is dishonest, suspicious of kind behaviors, emotionally cold, full of conspiracy theories
6. Delusional — paranoia is irrational with feeling that others are talking about them, plotting against them, etc. Delusional folks often have a specific group or theme to their beliefs.
7. Paranoid Psychotic — unable to function in the society due to paranoid delusions, feeling orbiting satellites are tracking them, the government has planted an electronic device in their brain, etc.

Your friend probably fits along the line somewhere. Levels five, six and seven are considered mental health issues with the upper two requiring psychiatric treatment.

Age is also important as an early sign of dementia/senility is suspiciousness. In the early stages, due to failing memory, elderly individuals will often feel their home items are being stolen or disturbed (moved about, messed with, etc.). In truth, they become suspicious and hide items, then can’t remember where they’ve hidden them. In an odd situation, this type of paranoia and suspiciousness is often NOT paired with an emotional reaction. Elderly individuals may accuse a neighbor or grandchild of stealing $10,000 yet be perfectly calm about it. It’s as though the emotional part of the brain knows the thoughts aren’t true.

Without additional information I hesitate to offer recommendations. I hope this helps, however.