A highly exaggerated suspiciousness of others is referred to as?

The term that describes a highly exaggerated suspiciousness of others is "paranoia." Paranoia involves intense feelings of mistrust and a belief that others may intend to cause harm or are plotting against the individual. This state of mind can lead to significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. Individuals exhibiting paranoia often interpret benign interactions as threatening and may respond with defensive or aggressive behaviors.

While other terms mentioned may encompass some aspects of suspiciousness, they do not specifically focus on the exaggerated mistrust that characterizes paranoia. For example, schizophrenia can include a range of symptoms, including delusions and hallucinations, but it is a more complex disorder that involves a broader spectrum of disturbances in thought processes. Psychosis generally refers to a significant disconnect from reality and can manifest in various ways but does not exclusively denote the specific theme of unrealistically high distrust of others. Agitated delirium, on the other hand, describes a state of severe confusion and agitation, often related to substance use or severe medical issues, rather than an overarching suspicious stance towards others. Thus, paranoia is the most accurate term to describe the condition of exaggerated suspiciousness.