What is Othello Syndrome?

The Othello Syndrome, which affects men more than women, is the delusion of infidelity of a spouse or partner. It is characterized by recurrent accusations of infidelity, searches for evidence, repeated interrogation of the partner, tests of their partner's fidelity, and sometimes even the extreme of stalking.

The syndrome may appear by itself or in the course of paranoid schizophrenia, alcoholism or cocaine addiction. As in Othello, the play by Shakespeare, the syndrome can be highly dangerous and result in disruption of a marriage, homicide and suicide, research on the web reveals.

The Othello Syndrome was named by the English psychiatrist John Todd (1914-1987) in a paper he published with K. Dewhurst entitled ‘The Othello Syndrome: a study in the psychopathology of sexual jealousy’. Delusional jealousy, erotic jealousy syndrome, morbid jealousy, Othello psychosis or sexual jealousy are some of the other names given to this syndrome, it is learnt.

The symptoms of this mental illness, which usually begins in early adulthood, may include loss of personality, agitation, catatonia, confusion, psychosis, unusual behaviour and withdrawal.