An Uncontrolled Study of Cognitive Therapy for Morbid Jealousy

Abstract

Thirteen patients presenting with morbid jealousy were treated using a cognitive approach adapted from Beck's cognitive therapy for depression. Cognitions in morbid jealousy showed the characteristics of automatic thoughts as described by Beck, and were based on faulty assumptions derived from interpretations of past experiences. The cognitive treatment directed mainly at the faulty assumptions resulted in improvements in ten patients and no change in one; two patients dropped out of treatment. The results are considered encouraging.