Othello Syndrome
In the play “Othello”, written in 1603 by the English poet and playwright William Shakespare, the story of Othello, who thinks he has been cheated on by his wife and is jealous, is told (Shakespeare, 2008). The name “Othello Syndrome” started to be heard with an article published in 1955 (Todd and Dewhurst, 1955).
Othello Syndrome is not a directly specified disorder in the DSM-5 diagnosis group. However, in the literature studies, it is defined as a psychotic disorder associated with jealousy (Kataoka & Sugie, 2018; Yusim et al, 2008).
While jealousy is seen as a complex emotion that most people experience at some point in their life, pathological jealousy is considered to be an irrational state from a psychological point of view. Although the individual knows that he is in the illusion of jealousy, he thinks and suspects that he is being deceived by the other individual (Cipriani, Vedovello, Nuti, & Di Fiorino, 2012). From a pathological point of view, jealousy is expressed as “a reaction against the unconscious threat to one’s self-esteem” (Tezcan & Ülkeroğlu, 1995; cited in Hança, 2022). Individuals with Othello syndrome appear to have a rival delusion. Accordingly, he accuses his partner of infidelity even if the person does not have proof of the existence of such a rival, and may find the evidence shown by his partner unreasonable (Kingham & Gordon, 2004).
Considering the prevalence of Othello syndrome between genders, it is thought that it is more common in men than in women (Enoch and Ball, 2013). Although there is no clear data on the incidence of Othello syndrome, individuals with 20 cases of pathological jealousy were examined in California (Silva et al, 1998). According to this study, it was observed that the mean age of onset of pathological jealousy was 28 (Silva et al, 1998). The fact that the study was conducted with a small number of cases suggests that studies on the incidence of Othello syndrome and the age of onset should be repeated.
Othello syndrome is thought to occur frequently in the context of medical, neurological and psychiatric disorders in the individual (Cipriani, Vedovello, Nuti, & Di Fiorino, 2012). Considering the cases in the literature, it is stated that the biological basis of at least 30% of jealousy in individuals cannot be understood. However, these cases are thought to have a neurological basis for their pathological jealousy (Cipriani, Vedovello, Nuti, & Di Fiorino, 2012). It is stated that Othello syndrome is more likely to be seen together with borderline and paranoid personality disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, economic depression, low self-esteem, severe incompatibility within the family, and sexual dysfunctions (Kingham and Gordon, 2004).
Othello syndrome can be treated with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy methods. In case of substance abuse accompanying Othello syndrome, substance abuse treatment is recommended first (Kingham & Gordon, 2004). In addition, Othello syndrome treatment plan is provided with cognitive behavioral therapy, couple therapy and dynamic psychotherapy methods (Kingham & Gordon, 2004). In addition, treatment with antipsychotic drugs (Mooney, 1965; Byrne & Yatham, 1989) for delusions of deception accompanying Othello syndrome and antidepressants for obsessive thoughts (Lane, 1990; Gross, 1991; Stein et al. 1994). plan can be supported.
Source
- Byrne, A. and Yatham, L. N. (1989). Pimozide in pathological jealousy. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 249-251. doi: 10.1192/bjp.155.2.249
- Cipriani, G., Vedovello, M., Nuti, A., and Di Fiorino, A. (2012). Dangerous passion: Othello syndrome and dementia. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 66, 467-473.
- Enoch, M. D. and Ball, N. B. (2013). Interesting psychiatric syndromes. Reading Us.
- Gross, M. D. (1991). Treatment of pathological jealousy by fluoxetine. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 683–684. doi: 10.1176/ajp.148.5.683b
- Hança, B. B. (2022). Othello Syndrome in Folk Songs. Folklore/Literature, 28(110), 269-289.
- Kataoka, H. and Sugie, K. (2018). Delusional jealousy (Othello syndrome) in 67 patients with Parkinson’s disease. Frontiers in Neurology, 9, 129.
- Kingham, M. and Gordon, H. (2004). Aspects of morbid jealousy. Advances in Psychiatric treatment, 10(3), 207-215.
- Lane, R. D. (1990). Successful fluoxetine treatment of pathologic jealousy. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 51(8), 345-346.
- Mooney, H. B. (1965). Pathologic jealousy and psychochemotherapy. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 111, 1023-1042. doi: 10.1192/bjp.111.480.1023
- Shakespeare, W. (2008). othello İşbank Cultural Publications-Hasan Ali Yücel Classics Series.
- Silva, A. J., Ferrari, M. M., Leong, G. B., and Penny, G. (1998). The dangerousness of persons with delusional jealousy. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online, 26(4), 607-623.
- Stein, D. J., Hollander, E., and Josephson, S. C. (1994). Serotonin reuptake blockers for the treatment of obsessional jealousy. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 55(1), 30–33.
- Todd, J. and Dewhurst, K. (1955). The Othello syndrome: a study in the psychopathology of sexual jealousy. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 122(4), 367-374.
- Yusim, A., Anbarasan, D., Bernstein, C., Boksay, I., Dulchin, M., Lindenmayer, J. P. … Sadock, B. (2008). Normal pressure hydrocephalus presenting as Othello syndrome: case presentation and review of the literature. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(9), 1119-1125.
Uzman Bilgisi
Psy. Elif CALISKAN
Clinical Psychologist
- Üniversite : Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology, Istanbul Bilgi University (Full Scholarship - Honor Student), Faculty of Letters, Department of Sociology (Minor), Hacettepe University, 2016
- Uzmanlık : Ankara University, Institute of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Family Counseling (High Honor Student), 2021
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