One in three people in the UK regularly suffers paranoid or suspicious fears, according to research by clinical psychologists at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. This level of paranoia is much higher than previously thought and suggests that paranoia may well be almost as common as depression or anxiety.

Paranoid thinking is the suspicion that other people intend to do us harm. The study of 1200 people found that:

• over 40 per cent of people regularly worry that negative comments are being made about them
• 27 per cent think that people deliberately try to irritate them
• 20 per cent worry about being observed or followed
• 10 per cent think that someone has it in for them
• 5 per cent worry that there's a conspiracy to harm them.

The research, conducted by Wellcome Trust Fellow Dr Daniel Freeman and Professor Philippa Garety, highlights the surprising extent of paranoia among the UK population, and the distress it can cause. Results of the research are detailed in a self-help book on dealing with paranoid thoughts, published today.

'Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts' explains how these fears arise and presents practical steps to deal with them, alongside personal accounts by those affected by paranoid thoughts. It includes questionnaires and exercises to help readers learn about and combat their fears.

External links

• Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
• Paranoid thoughts website (Information on paranoid thoughts, advice on seeking help, and opportunities for people to share their experiences)
• Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts (Results of the research)