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Serotonin reuptake blockers for the treatment of obsessional jealousy
D J Stein1, E Hollander, S C Josephson
1Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
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.