Table of contents:
- What is Othello syndrome
- Othello syndrome: when jealousy is a mental illness
- Othello syndrome: symptoms
- Othello syndrome: treatment
- Psychological treatment for Othello syndrome
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Othello syndrome is a delusional type disorder, characterized by the presence of pathological jealousy and the belief that the couple is committing an infidelity. The name of this syndrome originates from the main character in the novel Othello: Shakespeare's Moor from Venice , as he suffers from uncontrollable and sickly jealousy. If you want to discover more about this syndrome, keep reading this article from Psychology-Online: Othello Syndrome: what it is, symptoms and treatment.
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- Othello syndrome: when jealousy is a mental illness
- Othello syndrome: symptoms
- Othello syndrome: treatment
What is Othello syndrome
What is Othello syndrome? Othello syndrome is a delusional disorder based on jealousy, so the central theme of delirium is that the partner is being unfaithful. People with this syndrome suffer from delusions and paranoid thoughts that the partner is cheating on them and, consequently, they suffer from excessive and totally disproportionate jealousy.
The basis of thinking and beliefs about alleged infidelity is totally irrational and without foundation or motive. Othello syndrome is also called celotypy or celotypic delirium, since morbid pathological jealousy, or of psychotic origin, is the main and defining characteristic of this syndrome.
Othello syndrome: when jealousy is a mental illness
Jealousy in the realm of the couple is an emotional reaction that develops when a person experiences a desire for possession over their partner and feels fear in the face of a threat of loss or experiences a real loss. Jealousy in a couple can be classified as follows:
- Occasional jealousy: they are experienced momentarily, especially when faced with changes, but the person is able to identify these fears and rationalize them.
- Reactive jealousy: they take place in the face of the real infidelity of a couple or when it acts in a way that causes insecurity and mistrust in the other person.
- Pathological jealousy of non-psychotic origin: unfounded and unhealthy jealousy, the person who experiences it presents attitudes of suspicion and concern. They are based on control and possessiveness.
- Pathological jealousy of psychotic origin: it refers to delusional jealousy, the most serious form of jealousy. The person who suffers them builds a system of beliefs and behaviors around the idea of infidelity, without proof or foundation of any kind. There is distortion of reality, paranoia and probative behaviors that become compulsive rituals. This is the type of jealousy present in Othello syndrome and celotype.
Othello syndrome: symptoms
The symptoms that are frequently identified in Othello syndrome and characterize it are the following:
- Presence of extremely irrational, excessive, sick and delusional jealousy about the alleged infidelity of a partner.
- On a cognitive level, constant paranoid and intrusive thoughts are experienced based on the alleged infidelity. Likewise, people with celotpia unconsciously imagine unreal situations that continue to fuel this delusion.
- At the behavioral level, there is a development of obsessive verification behaviors, with the aim of discovering the deception on the part of the partner. Behaviors are also performed to search for details and tests that support and reaffirm their delusions. These behaviors occupy the majority of the time of the person suffering from Othello syndrome.
- On an emotional level, the person may experience depression, anxiety, frustration and in extreme cases aggressiveness. These beliefs generate high levels of suffering in people with this syndrome.
- An alteration in perception is identified, so unimportant details are considered as evidence of infidelity, even if they are not based on logical interpretation.
- Presence of confirmation bias, this bias consists of a tendency to accept information that confirms one's point of view and to reject information that does not. It is a very common bias in delusional disorders, so that the person only selectively attends to those data that feed their delusion and support their belief system and theory.
- Although there is a total lack of evidence, jealousy does not disappear, the belief is held with absolute conviction and is lived as an obvious truth.
- People who suffer from Othello syndrome believe they are victims of a conspiracy, and may come to think that other people know that their partner is cheating on them, and are lying and hiding it from them.
- People with Othello syndrome are not able to control their symptoms nor do they try, since they are not aware of the falsehood of their belief, which they experience as an absolute truth.
- Celotypic delirium constitutes the central element of the life of the person with Othello syndrome, which is why there is a significant alteration in the rest of the person's life spheres.
Othello syndrome: treatment
The celotypic disorder presents a complex symptomatology; with cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders. This complexity can cause you to not know how to help a person with Othello syndrome, but does Othello syndrome have a cure? Currently, the intervention prescribed for the cure of Othello syndrome normally consists of both pharmacological and psychological treatment. Below we explain the treatment of celotype so that you know how to treat Othello syndrome from a psychological perspective.
Psychological treatment for Othello syndrome
- Behavioral techniques. One part of the intervention focuses on the application of behavioral techniques to address obsessive testing and evidence-seeking behaviors. This approach is carried out using the techniques of exposure and response preventiontogether. The person with this syndrome develops together with the professional person a hierarchy of anxiogenic situations and is gradually exposed to them through exposure in the imagination and live exposure. When exposed to these situations, the person will tend to present verification and search behaviors, so they will be trained in the response prevention technique, to prevent them from carrying out these ritual behaviors. In this way, with both techniques, there is a greater habit and tolerance to impulses, anxiety is reduced and there is no reinforcement of zealotypic behaviors.
- Cognitive techniques. Regarding cognitive techniques, the cognitive restructuring and methodology of Ellis's rational-emotional therapy are usually used. The first step is for the person to be aware of the automatic and intrusive thoughts they have, and how they affect their emotions and behavior. On the other hand, it is encouraged that the person considers these thoughts as hypotheses and not as absolute truths, seeking objective evidence for and against the therapy. Likewise, there is a questioning of dysfunctional beliefsthrough questions that allow to show the incongruity and contradictions of cognitions. Finally, it is recommended that the person record their thoughts, to be more aware of them, the emotional and behavioral consequences of the same, and propose a more rational alternative thought.
- Couple therapy. One of the consequences of Othello's syndrome is wear and tear and conflicts in the couple. Therefore, couples therapy is recommended, where objectives such as strengthening the bond, increasing trust and stability in the relationship are worked on. To do this, the couple is trained in problem solving technique and in communication training technique.. Through the first, the couple improves their skills when it comes to raising problems or difficulties that arise in the couple, planning different solutions and reaching an agreement on one of them. Finally, with communication training, empathy, active listening, the expression of feelings and needs, as well as the understanding of the other point of view are promoted. The goal of this is to reduce misunderstandings and defensiveness in the couple.
- Finally, it is necessary to work on the self-esteem and myths of romantic love of the person with Othello syndrome. The basis of jealousy is found in insecurities and mental schemes about how relationships should be. That is why it is important to promote the self-concept and self - esteem of the person with celotype, since it is usually diminished. On the other hand, it is necessary to carry out work on the conceptualization of couple relationships, in which a deconstruction of those behaviors that society has instilled in us as typical of a romantic relationship is carried out. Likewise, healthier relationship models based on trust and communication are presented.
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This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography- Carlen, AM, Kasanzew, A., & López, AF (2009). Cognitive behavioral treatment of jealousy in the couple. Electronic Journal of Psychology Iztacala , 12 (3), 173-186.
- Echeburúa, E., & Fernández-Montalvo, J. (1999). The pathology of jealousy: descriptive analysis and therapeutic proposals. Behavior Analysis and Modification , 25 (99), 5-25.
- Molero Segrera, M., Casado Méndez, PR, Fonseca, S., Salvador, R., Jiménez Almaguer, D., Iserns Rondón, D., & del Castillo Remón, IL (2017). Othello syndrome. Case presentation. Journal of the Psychiatric Hospital of Havana , 13 (3).