Editing Pathological jealousy (section)

==Forms==
*'''Obsessions''': in individuals with pathological jealousy, obsessive jealous thoughts are often experienced as [[egodystonic]];  i.e., contrary to the individual's values or wishes. These thoughts are often perceived as irrational and intrusive and may lead to the emergence of [[compulsive behavior]] such as checking up on their partner may follow.  Some research suggests that pathological jealousy may lie on a continuum from [[Obsessive–compulsive disorder|obsessional]] to [[delusional]] thinking. Due to individual differences, there may also be significant differences in the degree of self-affliction experienced by the patient<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Insel |first1=T R |last2=Akiskal |first2=H S |title=Obsessive-compulsive disorder with psychotic features: a phenomenologic analysis |journal=The American Journal of Psychiatry |date=1 December 1986 |volume=143 |issue=12 |pages=1527–1533 |doi=10.1176/ajp.143.12.1527 |pmid=3789205 |url=https://europepmc.org/article/med/3789205 |issn=1535-7228|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*'''Extreme obsessions''': the individual may spend a significant amount of time ruminating on jealous and difficult to shift his or her focus. This preoccupation may lead to excessive behaviour, such as restricting the freedom of the partner. Although a distinction was occasionally difficult to make, the categories of ‘psychotic’ (delusional) and ‘neurotic’ jealousy contained similar proportions (each between one-third and one-half).<ref name="Kingham" />
*'''Delusions''': [[egosyntonic]] thoughts refer to ideas or behaviours that individuals perceive as true, reasonable, and consistent with their personal values or identity, and therefore are not resisted.<ref name="Kingham" /> Some authors compare morbid jealousy to a delusional state.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Aniline |first1=Orm |title=Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes (2nd edition). By M. D. Enoch and W. H. Trethowan Bristol: John Wright. 1979. Pp 193. £9.00. |journal=British Journal of Psychiatry |date=May 1980 |volume=136 |issue=5 |pages=513 |doi=10.1192/S0007125000046109 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/abs/uncommon-psychiatric-syndromes-2nd-edition-by-m-d-enoch-and-w-h-trethowan-bristol-john-wright-1979-pp-193-900/5222531F76A5353DE9A1B78092CC12E7 |language=en|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Beliefs may include the morbidly jealous subjects' suspicion that: 1. he or she is being poisoned or given some substance(s) to decrease sexual potency by the partner, 2. that the partner has contracted a sexually transmitted disease from a third party 3. that the partner is engaging in sexual intercourse with a third party while the subject sleeps.<ref name="Kingham" />
*'''Overvalued ideas''': overvalued ideas are characterised by a reasonably comprehensible thought of the patient that goes beyond the bounds of rationality in a particular situation. The idea itself is not irrational, but the patient's lack of resistance may lead to excessive behaviours, such as investigations to maintain a partner's loyalty. This kind of highly evaluative behaviour towards ideas can have negative consequences for both parties in the relationship. Overvalued ideas are characterized by being existent in the [[Psychological projection|individual's own thoughts]], and being [[egosyntonic]]; this means that patients may act on these ideas because they are consistent with the individual's [[Ego (Freudian)|ego]], or consistent with the individual's ideal [[self-image]], the ideas are also amenable to reason but are not resisted, even if they may have irrational consequences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freethoughtlebanon.net/2012/10/pathological-jealousy-its-symptoms-and-definition/|title = Pathological Jealousy: Its Symptoms and Definition|date = 24 October 2012}}</ref>