Lyle, 32, is referred to therapy by his physician after complaints of insomnia, chronic stress and social withdrawal. Lyle expressed a reluctance to therapy, concerned people were just trying to get in his head or that his therapist might report things to someone else.
During sessions, Lyle remains guarded, refusing to even share what music he listens to. When asked how he's feeling, he merely shrugs and says he's fine. Over time, however, he complains of feeling constantly on edge.
Lyle lives alone and has minimal contact with family, insisting they talk behind his back. He also prefers to work by himself because all his coworkers are disloyal and "in on something". A colleague once questioned the way he structured a database, which Lyle interpreted as an attack on his intelligence and has disliked his coworker ever since, maintaining distance. Recently, Lyle changed gyms after suspecting that other members were spying on him because they would occasionally glance in his direction.
Lyle describes his upbringing as strict and cold. He reports that his father often accused him and his siblings of lying or misbehaving, even without evidence. Trust was rarely modeled in the household. In school, he had few friends and was often described by teachers as a loner. He believes classmates gossiped about him and suspects teachers graded him unfairly. These suspicions have continued into adulthood, extending to coworkers, neighbors, and even health professionals.
After a thorough assessment, Lyle is diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD).
