Due to acute stomach discomfort, a 38-year-old man is transported by ambulance to the emergency room and has an emergency appendectomy. After a successful procedure and recuperation, the patient wonders if the appendectomy was truly necessary. He questions the surgeon's explanation that the procedure was possibly lifesaving, accuses the hospital furiously of taking advantage of his outstanding medical insurance, and threatens to sue the hospital. He requests immediate discharge and adds, "I've earned everything I have on my own, and this hospital isn't getting any of it." When asked whether he had any family or friends with whom the team may communicate, he says, "I haven't talked to my family in 20 years, and I wouldn't call anyone my friend. Even if I did, that's none of your business." Which of the following is the most likely explanation of this patient's behavior?

Question

Due to acute stomach discomfort, a 38-year-old man is transported by ambulance to the emergency room and has an emergency appendectomy. After a successful procedure and recuperation, the patient wonders if the appendectomy was truly necessary. He questions the surgeon's explanation that the procedure was possibly lifesaving, accuses the hospital furiously of taking advantage of his outstanding medical insurance, and threatens to sue the hospital. He requests immediate discharge and adds, "I've earned everything I have on my own, and this hospital isn't getting any of it." When asked whether he had any family or friends with whom the team may communicate, he says, "I haven't talked to my family in 20 years, and I wouldn't call anyone my friend.  Even if I did, that's none of your business."  Which of the following is the most likely explanation of this patient's behavior?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: This patient's skepticism, suspicion of the surgeon's motivations, and lack of long-term connections are all symptoms of paranoid personality disorder. Beginning in early adulthood, patients with this disease demonstrate a pattern of pervasive suspicion of others. Because they have suspicions about the motives of others and are concerned that personal information may be used against them, these people have few interpersonal interactions.
Despite the fact that paranoid personality disorder involves paranoid interpretations of innocuous words and occurrences, it is distinguished from psychotic diseases by the absence of persistent, well-developed delusions and other psychotic symptoms (eg, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior).

Due to Acute Stomach Discomfort, a 38-Year-Old Man Is Transported