Assessment

Detailed psychiatric assessment of the patient and spouse is required. Both should be seen individually at first.

Information should be sought from the spouse in relation to the patient's morbid beliefs and actions. An assessment should include questions concerning:

• the quality of the jealous beliefs - are they of delusional intensity?
• things that provoke outbursts of resentment, accusation, and questioning
• the spouse's response to the patients outbursts
• the patient's response to the spouses response
• details of any violent behaviour

Other important pieces of information include detailed marital and sexual histories from both partners.