Clinical Diagnosis · Nervous System · Easy
Paranoia
Meaning: An irrational and persistent feeling that others are threatening, watching or plotting against you.
In practice: Heavy cannabis use worsened his paranoia and growing suspicion of strangers on the street.
Word parts
- para- means beside or near
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: Absence of menstrual periods, classed as primary if they never started or secondary if they have stopped.
Answer: Amenorrhoea
Which word means: Abnormally rapid breathing rate.
Answer: Tachypnoea
Words like paranoia come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.