[Alcoholic jealousy: an old and current dilemma]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Forensic Psychology

Context:

• Pathological jealousy is frequently associated with alcohol use in both the general and medical populations.
• Forensic aspects of pathological jealousy, including violence, homicide, and suicide, have garnered increasing attention.

Purpose:

• To examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and pathological jealousy.
• To evaluate the diagnostic criteria and etiological factors of pathological jealousy in alcoholic patients.

Summary:

• While some studies indicate a high prevalence of pathological jealousy in alcoholic patients, its pathognomonic value in alcoholism is questioned by recent research.
• Methodological limitations and a scarcity of studies hinder the confirmation of alcohol as the sole etiological factor.
• Pathological jealousy may also occur in individuals with psychiatric disorders other than alcoholism, suggesting the influence of predisposing and triggering factors.

Impact:

• The findings suggest that 'alcoholic jealousy' may not be a distinct clinical entity.
• A dual diagnosis of paranoid disorder alongside alcohol dependence is often more appropriate for patients presenting with pathological jealousy and alcohol use.