Low Self-Esteem in Delusional Disorder (Jealous Type) Patients

Abstract

Self-esteem is an essential component of psychological health. Low self-esteem co-occurs with a range of psychiatric disorders. Delusional disorder (jealous type) is a clinical problem with psychosocial implications. Findings on the nature of the relationship between lowered self-esteem and jealousy however are inconsistent. The objective of the current study was to determine the frequency of lowered self-esteem in a sample of delusional disorder (jealous type) patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for three months at four mental health settings with forty six (N=46) psychiatric inpatients and outpatients diagnosed with delusional disorder (jealous type). Self-esteem scores for the sample as measured by Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale was (M=17.33, N=46, SD= 3.553). Self-esteem scores ranged from 9 to 28. Low self-esteem scores (1- 15) were observed in 12 (26.08%) of the patients. Low self-esteem scores were more frequent in male patients. There was no significant difference in scores for males (M=16.83, SD=3.78) and females [M=18.06.17, SD=3.10; t (43) =-1.114, p=.272]. The magnitude of the differences in the means was small (eta squared=.028). The results of the present study demonstrated that low selfesteem co-occurred in more than one fourth of the delusional jealousy patients. There was no significant difference between males and females for self-esteem scores. The prospective effects of low self-esteem and delusional jealousy on each other should be further investigated.