Othello syndrome: causes, symptoms and treatment

Othello syndrome is known by this name for the character in Shakespeare's play who was characterized by a few unhealthy jealousy and the permanent belief that your partner was unfaithful.

Although it is mentioned in this way, it is also about pathological jealousy or celotype, with serious consequences on people's mental health and their daily functioning.

What are the causes of Othello syndrome?

In explaining Othello syndrome, the focus has been on different causes. Between them, the psychological vulnerability of the jealous personality.

It is expressed in emotional dependence, fear of abandonment, personal insecurity, excessive need for support, among other aspects. It also goes back to family histories and attachment style. In these cases, it is often spoken of early affective deficiencies.

Finally, it is very important to investigate the presence of other disorders that may be at the basis of the development of pathological jealousy. For example, generalized anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive or paranoid disorder, among others.

Likewise, other investigations (Jimenez Arriero et al) propose to consider the presence of celotype in the problematic consumption of substances, such as alcohol. Not as a pathognomonic indicator, but from its prevalence.

Symptoms of Othello syndrome

The delusional belief about the alleged infidelity is present permanently, even when there is no evidence. Thus, a person with pathological jealousy you will find signs of deception where there are none.

There are three central characteristics of pathological jealousy:

• Absence of a real cause.
• Strange nature of suspicions.
• Excessive and irrational reaction.

Among the typical symptoms of Othello syndrome we find the following:

• Hypervigilance and permanent alert: Because this idea of ​​deception is kept in mind all the time, there is also a state of alarm to verify infidelity at any time.

• Intrusive and controlling attitudes: They manifest themselves through a complete lack of respect for the other person's spaces or their belongings. The mobile is controlled, spontaneous visits are made to the workplace or to their social gatherings.
• Physical or verbal violence: against the person accused of infidelity. There are insults, shouts, accusations and attacks.
• Cognitive biases: confirmation bias leads to interpreting only that information that confirms what was already believed.
• Permanent presence of negative emotions: like anger, guilt, rage, resentment.

It may interest you: Celotype: when jealousy dominates you

What treatment options are there for Othello syndrome?

People who have pathological jealousy require starting psychological treatment to work on delusions and paranoid about jealousy and infidelity.

Cognitive restructuring

As we mentioned, since there may be comorbidity with disorders such as generalized anxiety or obsessive compulsive, cognitive psychotherapy is useful for its approach.

Through it, it will be possible to identify which are the core beliefs and the assumptions that are influencing. Due to this recognition, they are questioned in order to be replaced by more functional ones.

Work on managing emotions

When working with cases of celotype it is also important to address the management of emotions to find more adaptive and healthy ways to express them.

Address self-esteem

Another important point, since people with celotype are insecure and dependent. It is important that they work on themselves, to return to being the center of their own lives and not their partner. It should aim to recover interests and carry out activities individually.

Couple therapy

When the relationship continues it is important that at some point couples therapy is performed. At times, the partner of the celotypic person has adapted to his demands, limiting his life. Or he has resorted to certain behaviors to avoid the scenes, without realizing that this reinforces them and increases mistrust.

For example, it is common to tell a lie to avoid starting an argument. However, the celotypical person interprets that this lie, in fact, hides a deception.

On the other hand, jealousy has a huge emotional impact on the jealous person's partner. Therefore, it is also essential to attend to your mental health individually.

Read on: Can you stop being a jealous person?

What love is not

In general, the approach to Othello syndrome is considered from an individual sphere, with a person typically characterized as sick of jealousy. Nevertheless, do not lose sight of the role that context plays in its reinforcement.

For a long time, as part of the so-called myths of romantic love, Jealousy was considered to be a sign of love and concern. This idea has contributed to justify the attitudes of control and dominance over the couple and has laid the foundations for toxic and possessive relationships.

Today it is very important to raise awareness about what love is and is not. Only from mutual respect is it possible to build healthy, responsible and equitable relationships. When there is violence, it is not love. Possession is not either. Much less control.

If you find yourself in a toxic relationship and you don't feel good in it anymore, but you don't know what to do, you can ask for help.