Letter to the Editor. Delusional jealousy in old age: case presentation in association with previously undiagnosed carcinoma of the bronchus
✍ Scribed by Elizabeth A. Egan; Brian Lunn; Maria Campbell; John T. O’Brien
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 150 KB
- Volume
- 11
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0885-6230
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Recent articles by Breitner and Anderson (1 994) and Freye and Wrigley (1995) have highlighted how little is known about the aetiology, organic and psychological antecedents and outcome of delusional jealousy in old age. Previously the importance of cerebral organic factors and a typically poor response to neuroleptics have been highlighted (Soyka, 1992; Breitner and Anderson, 1994). We would like to extend the discussion about the role of organic factors in delusional jealousy by describing a case presenting in old age in association with a previously undiagnosed carcinoma of the bronchus.
A 70 year old lady presented with a 3 month history of verbal and physical aggression towards her husband associated with delusions of infidelity. She constantly accused him of conducting an affair with his bigamous wife called 'Marge' and could not be reassured. There were no prominent affective symptoms or evidence of other delusions or any hallucinations. On closer questioning, she had a several month history of physical decline with weight loss, vomiting, constipation and lethargy. She had one previous episode of psychiatric illness after the birth of her first child when again she had been convinced that her husband was having an affair. This lasted several months, but settled spontaneously without psychiatric intervention. There was no past medical history or family history of note. She had been happily married to the same man for 49 years, they had 3 children and previous personality was described as carefree and happy with no pre-morbid traits of