FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PARANOID SYMPTOMS IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE OF OLDER ADULTS

Symptoms of paranoia were found in 9.5% of a community sample of older adults in North Carolina. In cross-sectional analyses, these symptoms were associated most strongly with black race, lower income and educa tion, less exercise, and more depressive symptoms. In longitudinal ana lysis, paranoid symptoms three years following initial interview were predicted by baseline paranoid symptoms, education and depressive symp toms at the initial interview. In blacks, paranoid symptoms may repres ent an appropriate response to a hostile environment rather than a psy chopathic trait.