Othello's nightmare stalks Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: It is a story as old as man himself, the tale of spouses doubting the fidelity of their partners. Most of the times, it is a nagging doubt that a spouse has about the activities of the partner. But sometimes this doubt becomes an obsession.
The result: Quarrels, violence and a break up of the marriage. Sometimes it could be worse, and end up in suicide or murder.Like that of Asma Mohsin whose throat was slit by her husband Syed Yousuf a few weeks back in the city.
Asma's sister Reshma says that Yousuf used to suspect his wife's fidelity for no rhyme or reason and had been harassing her for the last few years. Syed Yousuf is a perfect case of a person suffering from the Othello Syndrome, a term coined in 1917 by English psychiatrist John Todd who specialised in studies of the psychopathology of sexual jealousy.
The bad news is that more people in Hyderabad are suffering from Othello Syndrome than ever before, and more cases are surfacing these days in the twin cities' hospitals.
"Not everybody has become Syed Yousuf or will become one, but more marriages are now being rocked by recurrent accusations of infidelity, spouses repeatedly interrogating partners, searching for evidence and testing their partners' fidelity," says an analyst.
Although most cases of Othello Syndrome never come in public view, at least three to five cases are reported each week at the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda. In hospitals like the Deccan Medical College, on an average, four to five cases are reported per month, confirms Dr P Ramakrishna, the head of the psychology department.
Other hospitals also report similar figures. Experts like Dr B Anand, who is attached to the Institute of Mental Health, aver that merely half a per cent of all cases are reported to hospitals.
"One per cent of all mental health problems and five per cent of all marital problems are due to Othello Syndrome", says Bhaskar Naidu of Asha Hospital, Banjara Hills. Interestingly, most of those suffering from delusions about the infidelity of their partners are between 30-40 years old.
The doctors say that the cases are not confined to a particular community or a section of society. And yes, there are three times more men suffering from such delusions than women. Most of the cases which come to the hospitals, especially the government hospitals, are referred to by courts.
This implies that only when marital discords take a serious dimension and land up in the family courts, do cases of Othello Syndrome come to surface. Some cases arrive in hospitals as chronic headaches and tensions. And only on investigations does the truth tumble out.
"Many women do not come for treatment due to stigma", says a doctor. And what are the reasons for the increasing incidence of Othello Syndrome? Doctors say that with more women going out to work, the intermingling between the two sexes has increased.
The opportunities for extra marital relations has increased and so have the apprehensions of doubting spouses. Especially spouses who consider themselves deficient in some way. Professor of psychiatry Dr B Anand gives an academic explanation.
He says that the combination of impotence, some component of genetic characters, abuse of alcohol and drugs and chronic inferiority complex make up for a deadly cocktail that leads to Othello Syndrome.
Doctors said that those who are treated are given anti-psychotic drugs and a liberal dose of counselling. The treatment usually lasts between six months to a year.