By Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri

The young lady sat across from me clutching her handbag as if her life depended on it. She appeared exhausted as if dealing with something that had overwhelmed her to her bones.

“Doc, I am tired of trying to convince my husband. While he is loving, caring and protective, something appears to be changing” she said. “How exactly do you mean” I responded?
“It started small Doc- he would ask who I am texting. He started to check my phone, then calling me repeatedly during the day to ‘confirm’ where I was. Sometimes, he would insist that I make video calls so he could be certain I was telling the truth”
Initially, she admitted to reassuring him. She shared her passwords, cut off interactions with male colleagues and even stopped attending social interactions. Unfortunately, the accusations grew.

“At a point, he said I smiled too much at the male staff that worked for us. One day, he concluded I must be seeing someone at work as I looked ‘too happy’.

One afternoon, while at work, she noticed a familiar car parked across the street from her office. She ignored the thought but noticed that a few days later, she noticed the same car following her after work.

Days later, her husband confessed to hiring a private investigator to monitor her movements.
The above describes Othello’s Syndrome, a form of pathological jealousy where an individual is convinced often without evidence that their partner is unfaithful.

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It differs from ordinary jealousy as these symptoms occur irrationally and persistently. The thoughts are intrusive and often resistant to reassurance. The name of the condition is from Shakespeare’s tragic character, Othello, who became consumed by unfounded jealousy and eventually destroyed the relationship he cherished.

The condition impacts on both partners significantly and can be very distressing. The suspicious partner constantly seeks proof, interprets neutral events as suspicious and remains convinced in spite of reassurance. They may tend towards aggression targeted at the partner or perceived rival.

The partner who is being accused feels overwhelmed. They withdraw socially, become anxious and struggle with feelings of helplessness. The condition may be linked to underlying mental health conditions such as depression, delusional disorder, substance use, including alcohol, personal vulnerabilities or neurological conditions.

The condition can be managed through a combination of antipsychotic medication, psychotherapy, and treating underlying conditions. Treatment focuses on reducing delusional beliefs, managing anxiety, and addressing violent tendencies.
“Dr, will I get my life back? Will things get better?” she asked.

I encouraged that with awareness, empathy and appropriate help, her relationship can be improved. The first step was however the awareness that this wasn’t just jealousy. When love is overshadowed by suspicion, fear takes the place of trust and tragedies like Othello’s must be prevented with understanding and support.

Remember there is no health without mental health