{"formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","path":"/answers/paranoid-depression","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","title":"What is paranoid depression?","family":"Answers detail","description":"A person is concerned about a relative with depression who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments.","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"public","indexable":true},"provenance":{"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","wordpressId":"6260","contentCompleteness":"complete","dateScope":"original-source"},"authors":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck#person","name":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck"}],"reviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson"},"dates":{"datePublished":"2024-06-01T00:35:15Z","dateModified":"2026-06-05T14:21:12Z","lastReviewed":"2025-09-15"},"content":{"html":"<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers\">Answers</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">What is paranoid depression?</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"article-page answer-page\" data-answer-template=\"conversation\"><header class=\"answer-heading article-heading\"><a class=\"answer-back\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers\">Answers</a><h1>What is paranoid depression?</h1><div class=\"answer-credits\"><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4248f6de508c9d830e0cf812.jpg\" width=\"40\" decoding=\"async\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Written by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.</span></span></a><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg\" width=\"40\" decoding=\"async\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Medically reviewed by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</span></span></a></div><dl class=\"answer-heading-dates\"><div><dt>Published</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2024-06-01T00:35:15Z\">June 1, 2024</time></dd></div><div><dt>Updated</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2026-06-05T14:21:12Z\">June 5, 2026</time></dd></div><div><dt>Reviewed</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-09-15\">September 15, 2025</time></dd></div></dl></header><nav aria-label=\"Answer navigation\" class=\"answer-nav\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#summary\" aria-current=\"location\">Summary</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question\">Question</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer\">Answer</a></nav><article aria-label=\"Reader question and professional response\" class=\"prose\" data-answer-thread=\"\" id=\"article-content\"><section aria-labelledby=\"summary-title\" class=\"answer-overview\" id=\"summary\"><h2 id=\"summary-title\">Summary</h2><figure class=\"answer-question-image\"><img alt=\"Two relatives sharing tea on a bright porch\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"667\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/63e14e1e0e0e8bd9fa5f939e.webp\" width=\"1000\" decoding=\"auto\"></figure><p>A person is concerned about a relative with <a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/depression\" class=\"article-inline-link\" data-context-link=\"355\">depression</a> who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments. Earlier improvement has disappeared, and the family wants to know how to help.</p><p>The answer explains that depression can have different presentations and may sometimes include psychotic symptoms or overlap with other conditions.</p><p>It recommends returning to the doctor for reassessment of the new paranoia, with gentle family support and possible involvement of a therapist, rather than assuming the earlier treatment remains sufficient.</p></section><div class=\"answer-originals\" id=\"original-conversation\"><div class=\"answer-originals-body\"><section aria-labelledby=\"question-person\" class=\"answer-post answer-question\" id=\"question\"><div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"answer-avatar answer-reader\">?</div><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"question-person\">Question</h2><span>Reader · Identity withheld</span></header><p>A close family member has been diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed medication, which did help him when he took it. </p>\n<p>Recently, he has been showing signs of paranoia, thinking that the doctors are drugging him and that there is a conspiracy against him. This paranoia is influencing him not to take his medication or see a doctor.</p>\n<p>The improvement that was made previously has disappeared. As a loved one, I do not know what to do. What is the best way to approach this situation and help him before it is too late?</p></div></section><section aria-labelledby=\"response-person\" class=\"answer-post answer-response\" id=\"answer\"><a aria-label=\"View Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. profile\" class=\"answer-avatar\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"44\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4248f6de508c9d830e0cf812.jpg\" width=\"44\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"response-person\">Answer</h2><span>Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.</span></header><p>Depression comes in many different forms. Some depressions are characterized by sad mood, while others involve osscilations between sad and euphoric moods. </p>\n<p>Other depressions involve angry feelings. Very severe depressions can sometimes include psychotic features such as hallucinations and delusions (including paranoid delusions).</p>\n<p>Depressive symptoms can also combine with symptoms from other disorders (such as <a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/schizophrenia\" class=\"article-inline-link\" data-context-link=\"355\">schizophrenia</a>) to produce mixed disorders (such as Schizoaffective Disorder which combines symptoms from schizophrenia and depression). </p>\n<p>Different forms and presentations of depression are best addressed using different treatments (different combinations of medication and/or psychotherapy) for optimal results.</p>\n<p>The proper course of action is to get your relative back to see the doctor so that the doctor knows about the paranoia symptoms in addition to the depressed mood symptoms. </p>\n<p>A medication change may be in order. Your relative may view such a re-assessment as part of a plot to harm him, but this sort of thinking needs to be *gently* challenged so that you all stay with reality as best as possible and not give in to what is patently wrong.</p>\n<p>Thereafter, it will be helpful to monitor that your relative is actually taking his medication as prescribed (if possible). In the best case, both family members and an outside objective therapist can be helping out; the therapist sees the patient once a week and can pick up on things that family members might be too close to see.</p></div></section></div></div><section aria-label=\"Subject matter expert\" class=\"article-expert article-expert-inline\" data-expert-kind=\"related\" data-expert-layout=\"standard\"><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Subject matter expert</p><div class=\"article-expert-identity\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/simone-hoermann\" class=\"card-identity-photo\" aria-label=\"Simone Hoermann  Ph.D.\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/5ffe249a46895c9a14f6074b.jpg\" width=\"64\" decoding=\"async\"></a><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/simone-hoermann\">Simone Hoermann <span class=\"expert-credentials\">Ph.D.</span></a></h2></div><p class=\"article-expert-focus\">Personality disorders, anxiety, and depression</p><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/simone-hoermann\" class=\"quiet-button\">View profile</a></section></article><div class=\"answer-endmatter\"><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck\" aria-label=\"View Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. profile\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4248f6de508c9d830e0cf812.jpg\" width=\"64\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Author</span><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck\">Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. is a trauma-informed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate mental health challenges.</p></div></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson\" aria-label=\"View Jesse Hanson, Ph.D. profile\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg\" width=\"64\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Medical reviewer</span><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…</p></div></section><section aria-label=\"Related community\" class=\"article-topic-community article-topic-community-end\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/depression\" class=\"card-identity-photo\" aria-label=\"Depression\"><img alt=\"\" class=\"topic-community-banner\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/91211a50ddeaa7fa8b3e0af9.webp\" width=\"1200\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"/assets/responsive/a4f14d631a3c579a02f683c8.webp 800w, /assets/optimized/91211a50ddeaa7fa8b3e0af9.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 961px) 236px, calc(100vw - 80px)\"></a><p class=\"topic-community-label\">Related community</p><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/depression\">Depression</a></h2><p>A place for understanding depression and sharing perspectives on its impact on daily life.</p></section><section class=\"answer-related\"><h2>Related questions</h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/security-clearance-and-depression\">Will depression affect my chances of getting security clearance?</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/potentially-suicidal-boyfriend\">How do I cope with my boyfriend’s depression?</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/our-23-year-old-son-refuses-to-get-help-for-his-anxiety-attacks-and-depression\">Why does our son refuse treatment for his anxiety and depression?</a></section></div></div>","text":"Home Answers What is paranoid depression? AnswersWhat is paranoid depression? Written byMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D. Published June 1, 2024 Updated June 5, 2026 Reviewed September 15, 2025 SummaryQuestionAnswer Summary A person is concerned about a relative with depression who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments. Earlier improvement has disappeared, and the family wants to know how to help. The answer explains that depression can have different presentations and may sometimes include psychotic symptoms or overlap with other conditions. It recommends returning to the doctor for reassessment of the new paranoia, with gentle family support and possible involvement of a therapist, rather than assuming the earlier treatment remains sufficient. ? Question Reader · Identity withheld A close family member has been diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed medication, which did help him when he took it. Recently, he has been showing signs of paranoia, thinking that the doctors are drugging him and that there is a conspiracy against him. This paranoia is influencing him not to take his medication or see a doctor. The improvement that was made previously has disappeared. As a loved one, I do not know what to do. What is the best way to approach this situation and help him before it is too late? Answer Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. Depression comes in many different forms. Some depressions are characterized by sad mood, while others involve osscilations between sad and euphoric moods. Other depressions involve angry feelings. Very severe depressions can sometimes include psychotic features such as hallucinations and delusions (including paranoid delusions). Depressive symptoms can also combine with symptoms from other disorders (such as schizophrenia) to produce mixed disorders (such as Schizoaffective Disorder which combines symptoms from schizophrenia and depression). Different forms and presentations of depression are best addressed using different treatments (different combinations of medication and/or psychotherapy) for optimal results. The proper course of action is to get your relative back to see the doctor so that the doctor knows about the paranoia symptoms in addition to the depressed mood symptoms. A medication change may be in order. Your relative may view such a re-assessment as part of a plot to harm him, but this sort of thinking needs to be *gently* challenged so that you all stay with reality as best as possible and not give in to what is patently wrong. Thereafter, it will be helpful to monitor that your relative is actually taking his medication as prescribed (if possible). In the best case, both family members and an outside objective therapist can be helping out; the therapist sees the patient once a week and can pick up on things that family members might be too close to see. Subject matter expert Simone Hoermann Ph.D. Personality disorders, anxiety, and depression View profile AuthorMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. is a trauma-informed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate mental health challenges. Medical reviewerJesse Hanson, Ph.D. Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body… Related community Depression A place for understanding depression and sharing perspectives on its impact on daily life. Related questions Will depression affect my chances of getting security clearance?How do I cope with my boyfriend’s depression?Why does our son refuse treatment for his anxiety and depression?","wordCount":561},"schema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization","name":"MentalHealth.com","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","publishingPrinciples":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/publishing/editorial-policy"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#website","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","name":"MentalHealth.com","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Answers","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What is paranoid depression?","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression"}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#primaryimage","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/63e14e1e0e0e8bd9fa5f939e.webp","contentUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/63e14e1e0e0e8bd9fa5f939e.webp","width":1000,"height":667,"encodingFormat":"image/webp","caption":"Two relatives sharing tea on a bright porch"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck#person","name":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck","jobTitle":"Doctor","image":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4248f6de508c9d830e0cf812.jpg","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-dombeck-phd-530a573/"],"memberOf":[{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/clinical-affairs#department"},{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/publishing#department"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson","jobTitle":"Clinical Affairs Director","image":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-hanson-phd-7215216/"],"memberOf":[{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/clinical-affairs#department"},{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/leadership#department"}]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#article","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","headline":"What is paranoid depression?","description":"A person is concerned about a relative with depression who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments.","wordCount":410,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"},"articleSection":"Answers","inLanguage":"en-US","author":[{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck#person"}],"image":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#primaryimage"},"hasPart":[{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question"},{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer"}],"datePublished":"2024-06-01T00:35:15Z","dateModified":"2026-06-05T14:21:12Z"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question","name":"What is paranoid depression?","text":"A close family member has been diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed medication, which did help him when he took it. Recently, he has been showing signs of paranoia, thinking that the doctors are drugging him and that there is a conspiracy against him. This paranoia is influencing him not to take his medication or see a doctor. The improvement that was made previously has disappeared. As a loved one, I do not know what to do. What is the best way to approach this situation and help him before it is too late?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question","answerCount":1},{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer","text":"Depression comes in many different forms. Some depressions are characterized by sad mood, while others involve osscilations between sad and euphoric moods. Other depressions involve angry feelings. Very severe depressions can sometimes include psychotic features such as hallucinations and delusions (including paranoid delusions). Depressive symptoms can also combine with symptoms from other disorders (such as schizophrenia) to produce mixed disorders (such as Schizoaffective Disorder which combines symptoms from schizophrenia and depression). Different forms and presentations of depression are best addressed using different treatments (different combinations of medication and/or psychotherapy) for optimal results. The proper course of action is to get your relative back to see the doctor so that the doctor knows about the paranoia symptoms in addition to the depressed mood symptoms. A medication change may be in order. Your relative may view such a re-assessment as part of a plot to harm him, but this sort of thinking needs to be *gently* challenged so that you all stay with reality as best as possible and not give in to what is patently wrong. Thereafter, it will be helpful to monitor that your relative is actually taking his medication as prescribed (if possible). In the best case, both family members and an outside objective therapist can be helping out; the therapist sees the patient once a week and can pick up on things that family members might be too close to see.","author":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck#person"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer"},{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#webpage","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","name":"What is paranoid depression?","description":"A person is concerned about a relative with depression who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers#webpage"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#article"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"},"medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"General public"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#primaryimage"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson#person"},"datePublished":"2024-06-01T00:35:15Z","dateModified":"2026-06-05T14:21:12Z","lastReviewed":"2025-09-15"}]},"representations":{"html":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","json":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/answers/paranoid-depression.json","jsonLd":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/answers/paranoid-depression.ld.json"},"$schema":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/page.schema.json","images":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/4248f6de508c9d830e0cf812.jpg","alt":"","width":40,"height":40},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg","alt":"","width":40,"height":40},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/63e14e1e0e0e8bd9fa5f939e.webp","alt":"Two relatives sharing tea on a bright porch","width":1000,"height":667},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/5ffe249a46895c9a14f6074b.jpg","alt":"","width":64,"height":64},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/91211a50ddeaa7fa8b3e0af9.webp","alt":"","width":1200,"height":675}],"sections":[{"id":"summary-title","title":"Summary","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#summary-title"},{"id":"question-person","title":"Question","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question-person"},{"id":"response-person","title":"Answer","level":2,"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#response-person"}],"references":[],"relatedReading":[],"links":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","label":"Home"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers","label":"Answers"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers","label":"Answers"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck","label":"Written byMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#summary","label":"Summary"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question","label":"Question"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer","label":"Answer"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/depression","label":"depression"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/schizophrenia","label":"schizophrenia"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/simone-hoermann","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/simone-hoermann","label":"Simone Hoermann Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/simone-hoermann","label":"View profile"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck","label":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/depression","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/depression","label":"Depression"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/security-clearance-and-depression","label":"Will depression affect my chances of getting security clearance?"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/potentially-suicidal-boyfriend","label":"How do I cope with my boyfriend’s depression?"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/our-23-year-old-son-refuses-to-get-help-for-his-anxiety-attacks-and-depression","label":"Why does our son refuse treatment for his anxiety and depression?"}],"conversation":{"status":"complete","summary":{"question":"A person is concerned about a relative with depression who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments. Earlier improvement has disappeared, and the family wants to know how to help.","answer":"The answer explains that depression can have different presentations and may sometimes include psychotic symptoms or overlap with other conditions. It recommends returning to the doctor for reassessment of the new paranoia, with gentle family support and possible involvement of a therapist, rather than assuming the earlier treatment remains sufficient."},"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","sourceReviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/jesse-hanson"},"question":{"id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#question","html":"<p>A close family member has been diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed medication, which did help him when he took it. </p>\n<p>Recently, he has been showing signs of paranoia, thinking that the doctors are drugging him and that there is a conspiracy against him. This paranoia is influencing him not to take his medication or see a doctor.</p>\n<p>The improvement that was made previously has disappeared. As a loved one, I do not know what to do. What is the best way to approach this situation and help him before it is too late?</p>","text":"A close family member has been diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed medication, which did help him when he took it. Recently, he has been showing signs of paranoia, thinking that the doctors are drugging him and that there is a conspiracy against him. This paranoia is influencing him not to take his medication or see a doctor. The improvement that was made previously has disappeared. As a loved one, I do not know what to do. What is the best way to approach this situation and help him before it is too late?"},"answer":{"id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression#answer","html":"<p>Depression comes in many different forms. Some depressions are characterized by sad mood, while others involve osscilations between sad and euphoric moods. </p>\n<p>Other depressions involve angry feelings. Very severe depressions can sometimes include psychotic features such as hallucinations and delusions (including paranoid delusions).</p>\n<p>Depressive symptoms can also combine with symptoms from other disorders (such as <a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/schizophrenia\" class=\"article-inline-link\" data-context-link=\"355\">schizophrenia</a>) to produce mixed disorders (such as Schizoaffective Disorder which combines symptoms from schizophrenia and depression). </p>\n<p>Different forms and presentations of depression are best addressed using different treatments (different combinations of medication and/or psychotherapy) for optimal results.</p>\n<p>The proper course of action is to get your relative back to see the doctor so that the doctor knows about the paranoia symptoms in addition to the depressed mood symptoms. </p>\n<p>A medication change may be in order. Your relative may view such a re-assessment as part of a plot to harm him, but this sort of thinking needs to be *gently* challenged so that you all stay with reality as best as possible and not give in to what is patently wrong.</p>\n<p>Thereafter, it will be helpful to monitor that your relative is actually taking his medication as prescribed (if possible). In the best case, both family members and an outside objective therapist can be helping out; the therapist sees the patient once a week and can pick up on things that family members might be too close to see.</p>","text":"Depression comes in many different forms. Some depressions are characterized by sad mood, while others involve osscilations between sad and euphoric moods. Other depressions involve angry feelings. Very severe depressions can sometimes include psychotic features such as hallucinations and delusions (including paranoid delusions). Depressive symptoms can also combine with symptoms from other disorders (such as schizophrenia) to produce mixed disorders (such as Schizoaffective Disorder which combines symptoms from schizophrenia and depression). Different forms and presentations of depression are best addressed using different treatments (different combinations of medication and/or psychotherapy) for optimal results. The proper course of action is to get your relative back to see the doctor so that the doctor knows about the paranoia symptoms in addition to the depressed mood symptoms. A medication change may be in order. Your relative may view such a re-assessment as part of a plot to harm him, but this sort of thinking needs to be *gently* challenged so that you all stay with reality as best as possible and not give in to what is patently wrong. Thereafter, it will be helpful to monitor that your relative is actually taking his medication as prescribed (if possible). In the best case, both family members and an outside objective therapist can be helping out; the therapist sees the patient once a week and can pick up on things that family members might be too close to see.","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck#person","name":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/mark-dombeck"}},"summaryScope":"Editorial overview of the original question and response; original review dates apply to the source conversation."},"presentation":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-03","template":"answer-conversation","imageGeneratedAt":"2026-10-03"},"seo":{"title":"What should I do if a relative with depression becomes paranoid?","description":"A person is concerned about a relative with depression who has become suspicious of doctors and stopped medication and appointments.","canonical":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/paranoid-depression","robots":"index,follow","socialImage":{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/f7d19272dd5d30590dddbab9.png","width":1200,"height":630,"alt":"MentalHealth.com — Answers","type":"image/png","sitemapGroup":"answers"}},"subjectMatterExpert":{"name":"Simone Hoermann, Ph.D.","url":"/people/simone-hoermann","profileId":"6419","topic":"mood","focus":"Personality disorders, anxiety, and depression","selectionBasis":"Documented expertise in the existing published profile","reviewAttribution":false},"navigation":[{"label":"Summary","href":"#summary"},{"label":"Question","href":"#question"},{"label":"Answer","href":"#answer"}],"relatedCommunity":{"community":"/community/depression","basis":"topic match"},"collections":[]}