In the world there are different strange and curious mental illnesses. But, among all of them, the delirium or the Othello syndrome stands out, characterized by a feeling that many of us have felt: jealousy. And who hasn’t run into a jealous boyfriend, friend, or even a family member? Although sometimes this is a normal feeling, those who suffer from this mental disorder reach a extreme level, feeling pathological jealousy that has no basis.
As in Shakespeare’s story, people who suffer from the Othello syndrome or delusionin which they imagine situations that are not real (hence called delirium) can meet a violent and tragic end.
Because experts still don’t know much about this condition, it’s a topic that is still being studied. Find out what it is about in this Supercurious article.
The unleashed jealousy that characterizes Othello syndrome
Othello syndrome, also known as Othello delusion or jealousy, is a syndrome characterized by the appearance of morbid jealousy that even reaches states of psychosis.
Paranoia and extreme fear of abandonment have made these individuals unable to tell what is real from what is unreal, when it comes to infidelity. Bullying, murder, suicide, or some combination of these are often the sad culmination of those with this syndrome.
Othello syndrome was first diagnosed by Dr. John Todd, a British psychiatrist, in the 1950s. It can arise spontaneously, or in conjunction with other mental illnesses (for example, schizophrenia) or as a side effect of medication or brain trauma.
Interestingly, Othello’s delusion has been found to be more common in men. In fact, men and women account for approximately 60% and 40% of cases, respectively.
1. Why is it called that?
The name of this syndrome is the same as the famous Shakespeare’s play. In it, the main character, Othello, is tricked by his Machiavellian “friend”, Iago, into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is being unfaithful to him. Falsely Convinced of his betrayal, Othello murders Desdemona.
Also, those who suffer from cellopathy, they cannot control their anger or rage to the point of wanting and acting aggressively towards their partner. We must be careful and seek the necessary help, since the violence exercised in this type of relationship they can even lead to murder and death.
2. Causes of Othello syndrome
There is little scientific evidence on physical or biological causes of Othello syndrome. However, according to some research, some cases could be caused by genetic or biochemical changes in the brain. But, without a doubt, There are psychological causes that can trigger Othello’s delirium, for example:
- High emotional dependency. When a person is insecure, requires excessive support, has early affective deficiencies or suffers from fear of abandonment, they may be a person at risk for the development of this syndrome.
- Disorders of other types are also important triggers. Examples of them are the generalized anxiety disordersparanoid disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others.
- Another possible cause is the example of parents or other authority figures. If situations of infidelity or jealousy are experienced, the little ones can grow up and develop the syndrome.
- Finally, some research shows that excessive consumption of different substances could also develop at the onset of the disorder.
3. Main symptoms of Othello Syndrome
This delusional belief of infidelity, which generally occurs permanently, translates into various symptoms or alarm signals. It is worth emphasizing that Othello syndrome does not develop in the same way in all people. Among the main symptoms are:
- Othello syndrome begins to manifest when a person permanently maintains its alert state against the behavior of the other; keeping him/her hypervigilant.
- Does not respect the privacy or intimacy of the other. This causes intrusive and controlling behaviors to develop.
- The affected person only interprets that information that can confirm their suspicions. This is known as cognitive bias.
- In most cases, it incorporates an imaginary third within the couple relationship.
- presents inability to control negative emotions such as anger, guilt, rage, or fear. This may also lead to violent, physical and emotional attacks as symptoms of Othello syndrome.
4. Is there a treatment for Othello syndrome?
To prevent or reduce the symptoms of Othello syndrome, One of the most recommended treatments is cognitive psychotherapy. Through it, the assumptions that influence the patient’s behavior are identified, to replace them with more effective ones. In addition to this, therapies should focus on emotional control and even couples counseling.
In the event that the Othello syndrome reaches its maximum, the specialists could recommend the use of antipsychotic drugs, which will help control impulses. However, this will only be on prescription and you will need the therapy support like those mentioned above.
Some examples and cases of Othello syndrome
To close, we want to tell you about some cases of Othello syndrome. Remember that if you notice any strange behavior in your partner, you should go to therapy to avoid any risk situation.
1. A 63-year-old man, who had accused his wife of having an affair, strangled her to death and then hanged himself because he could no longer cope with his obsessive suspicions.
2. A 42-year-old woman interrogates her boyfriend before and after he leaves home, looking for signs of infidelity in his explanations. Also inspect your cell phone without your permission and email accounts. Her obsession reaches such a point that she prevents him from watching television for fear that he will see an attractive woman and fall in love with her.
3. A 39-year-old man constantly accuses his wife of infidelity. Leaving home for work or any other purpose, he often returns home unexpectedly with the intention of finding his wife red-handed with her lover. He has had clashes with various men in the neighborhood over false accusations regarding his wife. Also, he often spies on her from afar with binoculars.
4. A 31-year-old woman accuses his partner of infidelity whenever he listens to love songswatch romantic movies, spot an attractive woman, whatever the situation, or read news articles mentioning infidelity.
All these stories show clear signs of a serious problem on the jealousy management that may respond to the syndrome.
Before reading this article, did you know about the existence of Othello syndrome? Do you recognize someone close to you who is suffering from it? Remember that this information is very valuable in prevention, the first step to reduce the risks generated by this type of behavior. For this reason, we invite you to continue researching and learning about this and other syndromes. Do not hesitate to let us know your opinions and comments, we want to read you!
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