D J Stein1, E Hollander, S C Josephson. 1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Some patients with pathological jealousy have a predominant obsessional component to their jealous thoughts. Since obsessions and compulsions often respond to serotonin reuptake blockers, these agents may also be useful for obsessional jealousy. METHOD: We undertook a retrospective study of patients who presented with obsessional jealousy. Six patients were treated in open clinical practice with serotonin reuptake blockers. RESULTS: Four of the six patients responded to medication. This response was as robust as that seen in patients with classical symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. CONCLUSION: Obsessional jealousy has phenomenological similarities to other obsessions and compulsions, and obsessional jealousy may also respond to standard antiobsessional medications.
BACKGROUND: Some patients with pathological jealousy have a predominant obsessional component to their jealous thoughts. Since obsessions and compulsions often respond to serotonin reuptake blockers, these agents may also be useful for obsessional jealousy. METHOD: We undertook a retrospective study of patients who presented with obsessional jealousy. Six patients were treated in open clinical practice with serotonin reuptake blockers. RESULTS: Four of the six patients responded to medication. This response was as robust as that seen in patients with classical symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. CONCLUSION: Obsessional jealousy has phenomenological similarities to other obsessions and compulsions, and obsessional jealousy may also respond to standard antiobsessional medications.
Authors: Dan J Stein; Daniel L C Costa; Christine Lochner; Euripedes C Miguel; Y C Janardhan Reddy; Roseli G Shavitt; Odile A van den Heuvel; H Blair Simpson Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2019-08-01 Impact factor: 52.329