Jealousy and subthreshold psychopathology: a serotonergic link.
BACKGROUND
A few studies suggest that different neurotransmitters may play a role in the expression of jealousy. Our study aimed to explore the serotonergic system by means of the specific binding of (3)H-paroxetine ((3)H-Par) to platelet membranes of healthy subjects with and without excessive jealousy concerns, according to a specific self-administered questionnaire [Questionnaire for affective relationships (QAR)].


METHODS
The study sample includes 21 subjects concerned by jealousy thoughts and 21 control subjects without jealousy concerns, as shown by their QAR scores. Subjects of the first group were administered a battery of self-report instruments designed to detect the presence of typical, atypical and subthreshold psychopathology. Platelet membranes and (3)H-Par binding were carried out according to standardized protocols.


RESULTS
Subjects with excessive jealousy concerns had a reduced density of (3)H-Par binding as compared with control subjects without jealousy concerns and had one or more psychiatric spectrum conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that excessive jealousy is associated with various forms of psychopathology and may be underlain by alteration of the serotonergic system, as reflected by the lower density of the platelet serotonin transporter.
Marazziti
Donatella
D
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, I-56100 Pisa, Italy. dmarazzi@psico.med.unipi.it
Rucci
Paola
P
Di Nasso
Elena
E
Masala
Irene
I
Baroni
Stefano
S
Rossi
Alessandra
A
Giannaccini
Gino
G
Mengali
Francesco
F
Lucacchini
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007578:Jealousy; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D017374:Paroxetine