Paranoid personality traits in a panic disorder population: a pilot study.

To better understand the relationship between panic disorder and paranoid personality, panic disorder patients (N = 28) who were referred to an anxiety disorder clinic in a community mental health center were evaluated for paranoid personality traits on a standardized personality self-report instrument. Paranoid personality disorder was found in 54% of subjects. Paranoid subjects were found to have an earlier age of onset, longer duration of illness, and more psychopathology. Possible etiologies and implications for treatment of these findings are discussed.