Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by per-vasive mistrust and suspiciousness of others. Clients with this disorder interpret others’ actions as poten¬tially harmful. During periods of stress, they may develop transient psychotic symptoms. Incidence is estimated to be 0.5% to 2.5% of the general population; the disorder is more common in men than in women. Data about prognosis and long-term outcomes are lim¬ited because most people with paranoid personality disorder do not readily seek or remain in treatment (APA, 2000).