bcuz,

I find that my own fits of paranoia and anger towards loved ones stems directly from conflict over something, usually heated conflict. Often, I will staunchly refuse to interact with whoever I perceived to be the cause for anywhere from days to months.

The best way I can think to explain it (and I'm glad to be lucid enough to do so at the moment...), is that it's another form of outward reaction to emotional expression. Some people become slightly resentful, but remain open to communication. Others cry, or yell.

...and then there's those of us who believe you work for a clandestine government agency which has the sole purpose of programming/studying/killing me.

Regardless of the way it is expressed, I feel it is just another form of expression, an attempt by our fractured thinking to put an explanation to what we see as a threat. Going only on how it affects me, I would speculate that he feels smothered, or feels that he is somehow not in control of his situation. Claiming that you are (in this case) "out to get him" is a vent of sorts, taken to an extreme of expression.

Unfortunately, I don't have a helpful answer to approaching him in this state. I know that when I get that way, I absolutely -have- to remove myself from the perceived cause, or I will go verbally ballistic. Most of the time, my wife just lets me rant until I cannot rant anymore, then offers her support in the form of indirect acknowledgement. I think she's figured out that if I -know- she's listening to whatever I'm rambling about, I feel better about it over time.

...she doesn't necessarily understand it, mind you. :P But knowing that I'm being heard is a comfort, and as long as she doesn't contradict what I'm saying at all (mainly she just nods and offers one-word responses throughout the ramble), I don't fly off the handle with even more extreme accusations. Then, over time, I settle enough mentally that I can discuss whatever is causing my distress with a modicum of civility and logical thinking. I won't lie - it's a very emotionally draining process for both of us, but when a resolution is reached, it's also very cathartic.

Hopefully this helps a little in understanding. You definitely know your son better than I do, but I can relate to his way of thinking - a lot of what you say he's said lately hits a little close to home with some things I've thought (and said) about those close to me over the years.