Paranoia News and Research

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Paranoia is a mental disorder in which a person has an extreme fear and distrust of others. A paranoid person may have delusions that people are trying to harm him or her.

Post-seizure psychotic episodes linked to future mental health risks

Some people with epilepsy experience delusions, hallucinations, paranoia and confusion after a seizure.

27 Aug 2026

Shifting expectations of unpredictability could help treat schizophrenia delusions

New research has found that improvements to the severity of delusions in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder recovering from an acute psychotic episode were significantly associated with reductions in volatility priors—someone's expectations about the unpredictability of their environment.

18 Aug 2026

Drink spiking is not just a nightclub problem, new UK data suggest

A UK-wide analysis of Drinkaware surveys found that suspected drink spiking and needling are widely underreported, with only 7% of affected 2022 respondents reporting the incident to the police. The findings also reveal gaps in public awareness, demographic differences in reported experiences, and psychological and physical effects that some respondents said persisted for decades.

17 Aug 2026

Single cocaine exposure causes lasting brain cell changes in mice

Researchers studying the impact of cocaine in mice have found that just one exposure to the drug can create changes in brain cells that persist for at least two weeks.

6 Jul 2026

Trauma-focused therapy safely improves PTSD symptoms in psychosis patients

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London and published in The Lancet Psychiatry has found that people with psychosis experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can benefit from a Trauma-Focused therapy integrated with Cognitive Behavior Therapy for psychosis (CBTp).

17 Jun 2026

Psilocybin use rises among Americans amid growing clinical interest

The use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in "magic mushrooms," is rising in the United States alongside de‑criminalization efforts in several states and local jurisdictions, as well as heightened interest by the general public.

23 Apr 2026

Problematic gaming in pre-teens linked to higher risk of psychotic experiences

Pre-teens who struggle to control their video gaming habits are more likely to have psychotic-like experiences a year later, a new study has found.

4 Mar 2026

Why the form of vitamin B12 you take may matter more than your intake

This comprehensive review examines vitamin B12 absorption, physiological roles, deficiency states, and dietary sources, with particular attention to differences between natural and synthetic forms. The authors conclude that while all B12 forms raise circulating levels, methylcobalamin may offer advantages in specific clinical contexts, especially where absorption or metabolic conversion is impaired.

10 Dec 2025

Study reveals the overlooked mental health challenges faced by new parents

Intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences among new parents are far more common than previously thought - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

2 Dec 2025

Novel therapy for psychosis tackles disturbing mental imagery

A pioneering therapy targeting distressing and disturbing mental images for people with psychosis could lead to a transformative intervention for a condition estimated to cost England almost £12 billion a year.

6 Nov 2025

Using cannabis to self medicate linked to higher risk of paranoia

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, in partnership with the University of Bath, has found that the reasons why a person chooses to use cannabis can increase their risk of developing paranoia.

27 Aug 2025

COVID-19 vaccine successes boosted hesitancy - can trust and equity restore immunization?

Researchers show that countries with higher initial COVID-19 vaccine acceptance also achieved stronger booster uptake, but trust and access remain decisive. The commentary warns that vaccine successes also fueled hesitancy, demanding structural reforms, clear communication, and proactive strategies to protect immunization.

21 Aug 2025

Off-label ketamine use for chronic pain lacks scientific basis

The off-label use of ketamine to treat chronic pain is not supported by scientific evidence, a new Cochrane review has found.

18 Aug 2025

Virtual Reality therapy works very well for people with psychosis

Treatment with Virtual Reality appears to work very well for people with psychosis. It works faster than the current treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy and is at least as effective.

7 Jul 2025

Grip strength offers new clues to early psychosis

Psychosis often begins not with characteristic disturbances of the mind – delusions like paranoia or hallucinations – but with disturbances in the way we move our body.

25 Jun 2025

Study: Poor sleep quality may increase susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs

A new study from the University of Nottingham has revealed that poor sleep quality may increase susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs, with depression likely playing a key role in this relationship.

12 Mar 2025

Mental health drives med student dropout rate

Around 1 in 5 UK medical students considers dropping out of medical school, with mental health issues a key contributor to their intention to abandon medicine, suggest the results of an observational study published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

11 Feb 2025