ABSTRACT
The presence of delusions is usually characterized as paranoia or paranoic. The use of this term paranoia must be guarded with care. Time was when paranoia indicated a large group of the mentally diseased. Records in hospitals for the insane listed many as paranoiacs. The real nature of the cause of pure paranoia is practically unknown, beyond the vague possibility of some inherited defect the nature of which is uncertain. Perhaps paranoia may be attributable to the disturbing effect of a complex or of complexes. The contribution of a “complex” to the production of distorted thinking is the newer and, because of its nature, the more flexible theory. Fatigue prevents their thinking normally. The emotions aroused assist in limiting thought to a few ideas and those only of continuing at their work. The distinction between the normal and the abnormal in thinking is a line difficult to draw.
