Obsessional jealousy


Obsessional jealousy is jealousy that is characterized by intrusive and excessive thoughts, and may be accompanied by compulsive checking of the partner. It is not classified as a mental disorder in the psychiatric manuals DSM or ICD, but it is mentioned as an example of how obsessive compulsive disorder can present itself.

Presentation

Its characteristics are:
  1. Little resistance and distress associated with obsessional thoughts
  2. Anger specifically directed at partner
  3. Jealousy evident only in a committed relationship
  4. Frequently monosymptomatic
  5. Frequently responds at lower doses of SSRI
  6. Rapid response in comparison with classical OCD