Paranoia, a conviction that the world is full of individuals who are "out to get you," is one of the psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder. Paranoia is a significant problem for persons with bipolar disorder, despite the fact that many of us use the term casually in everyday discourse. For individuals with bipolar disorder, paranoia is not a definite symptom. Many patients with bipolar illness have a wide range of mood changes and other life disruptions, but they seldom have the extreme highs or lows that can contribute to paranoia and psychosis.