SEROTONIN REUPTAKE BLOCKERS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBSESSIONAL JEALOUSY

Background: Some patients with pathological jealousy have a predominan t obsessional component to their jealous thoughts. Since obsessions an d compulsions often respond to serotonin reuptake blockers, these agen ts may also be useful for obsessional jealousy. Method: We undertook a retrospective study of patients who presented with obsessional jealou sy. Six patients were treated in open clinical practice with serotonin reuptake blockers. Results: Four of the six patients responded to med ication. This response was as robust as that seen in patients with cla ssical symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. Conclusion: Obsessio nal jealousy has phenomenological similarities to other obsessions and compulsions, and obsessional jealousy may also respond to standard an tiobsessional medications.