Othello’s syndrome it is a delusional disorder in which the person is suffering jealousy to the state that he/she is strongly convinced that his/her partner is cheating on him/her. It is a delusional delirium where the person waste his time irrationally to try to find “evidence” to confirm his suspicions. David Enouch in the Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes talks about deeply about this syndrome. (David Enouch, Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes)
The origin of this term comes from the play written by Shakespeare, Othello. Where the jealousy of Othello it is well shown at the end of the play. This jealousy it is put by Iago in Othellos mind. Iago, a great manipulator, achieves what he wants, drive Othello to his maximum madness to the point of killing her “D: let me live tonight” (5.2.100) “O: It is too late. He smothers her.” (5.2.105-106) He does not give her any chance to let her live. His jealousy drove him crazy to the point of get rid of the problem instead of trying to fix it.
This Syndrome comes from that story. And it is more common in men in his forty’s, as the case of Othello. The patient with this syndrome is looking continuously for proves to find out the infidelity to the extreme to count the other person underwear to know how many times he change in one day, as well as the changes in the position of furniture or clothes that do not suppose to be moved during the day and for this patients it is a reason of infidelity.