Definition of the word paranoia

The word "paranoia" originated from the Greek physician Aëtius of Amida (c. 500 AD), who described a type of mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution and other symptoms. Aetas' work, "De medicinis materia prima", includes the term " paranoia" (παράνοια) to describe this condition. The term was later adopted and expanded upon by French physician and psychiatrist Philippe Pinel in the late 18th century. Pinel described paranoia as a mental disorder characterized by "acute delirium" and "fixed interdiction of the sound judgment". Today, the term "paranoia" refers to a pattern of behavior characterized by jealousy, distrust, and irrational fears, often accompanied by delusions and a lack of insight into one's own mental state.