Central to this condition is a delusion that the patient's partner is being unfaithful. This belief is held on inadequate grounds and is unaffected by rational argument; the jealousy is based on unsound advice and reasoning.
It may occur secondary to an affective state, but it is often an isolated symptom.
There may be behaviour searching for evidence to substantiate the patients' belief and the patient is unsatisfied when none is found. The condition is important because the individual with morbid jealousy can be dangerous - on rare occasions fatal to the object of the jealousy.
The frequency of this condition in the general population is unknown but it is not an uncommon condition to be seen in a psychiatric clinic. It is more common in men than women.
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