Which Mental Illness Do Those Who Believe Conspiracies Have?

Conspiracy theory beliefs are not associated with mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. A new study by Viren Swami, a social psychologist at Anglia Ruskin University in England, found that conspiracy mentality correlates with certain personality traits, including low levels of trust and an increased need for closure. The study also examined the intricate psyche of conspiracy theorists, attributing their beliefs to a mixture of personality traits and motivations.

For many individuals, conspiracy theories do not control their lives, determine all their activities, or cause severe emotional disturbance. However, some people who believe intensely or casually in conspiracy theories may also be experiencing mental health issues such as paranoia. Paranoid personality disorder is a characteristic of the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders, which is characterized by holding paranoid thoughts in isolation and involving perceptions of harm to the self.

For mental health practitioners, it is important to understand and mitigate the vulnerability that a mental disorder creates to extremists. Conspiracy beliefs are shared by many people, and the approach to patients with conspiracy beliefs should be similar to dealing with psychotic disorders. A sample of 475 British adults was studied to examine the relationship between belief in conspiracy theories and personality disorders.