General
Psychological effects
Violence
Internet
General
11693207 R,T
The phenomenon of stalking--a
review of current medical and legal considerations
The two essential legal
components of the definition of stalking are that the attention is
unwanted and that the victim feels threatened. Per this review, 4 out of 5
stalking victims were female, and 9 out of 10 stalkers were male. Subtypes
of stalkers are discussed: intimacy seekers, love-obsessional, socially
isolated, predatory, resentful, and rejected.
2001 Ir Med J 94;7:197-8, 200
Dineen, C. E.
9653530 R,T
Stalking. Part I: An overview
of the problem
In this Canadian review, 1 in
20 women will be stalked in her lifetime. Stalker behaviors range from
surveillance to violent acts, and are usually related to failed
relationships. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, guilt,
helplessness, and PTSD.
1998 Can J Psychiatry
43;5:473-6
Abrams, K. M. and Robinson, G.
E.
11288942 R,T
Research on stalking: what do
we know and where do we go?
Comprehensive review on
stalking, as one part of a larger pattern of relationship physical and
psychological abuse.
2000 Violence Vict 15;4:473-87
Davis, K. E. and Frieze, I. H.
11288938 JA
Stalking perpetrators and
psychological maltreatment of partners: anger-jealousy, attachment
insecurity, need for control, and break-up context
In two studies of college
students, 40% engaged in at least one stalking behavior following a
break-up. Stalking was significantly related to psychological maltreatment
of the partner prior to the break-up, as well as high level of need for
control in the stalker.
2000 Violence Vict 15;4:407-25
Davis, K. E., Ace, A., and
Andra, M.
11185516 JA
From the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Prevalence and health consequences of
stalking--Louisiana, 1998-1999
In a random phone survey in
Louisiana, 15% of women reported having been stalked in their lifetime,
and 2% presently were. 32% had been injured by their stalker, 67% had
reported the situation to the police, 11% had obtained a restraining
order, and 11% had purchased a gun. Stalkers were: 51% previous partner,
33% an acquaintance, 13% a stranger, and 4% unknown.
2000 JAMA 284;20:2588-9
11929447 JA
The prevalence and nature of
stalking in the Australian community
Among a random Australian
survey of men and women, 25% reported an episode of stalking, with 10%
lasting longer than one month. 18% were physically assaulted, and 63% of
victims suffered significant social and economic disruption.
2002 Aust N Z J Psychiatry
36;1:114-20
Purcell, R., Pathe, M., and
Mullen, P. E.
10972514 JA
Intimate partner violence and
stalking behavior: exploration of patterns and correlates in a sample of
acutely battered women
Among battered women, prior
emotional and psychological abuse was a strong predictor of
post-relationship stalking.
2000 Violence Vict 15;1:55-72
Mechanic, M. B., Weaver, T. L.,
and Resick, P. A.
9243829 JA
Stalking on campus: the
prevalence and strategies for coping with stalking
In this college study, 30% of
females and 17% of males reported having been stalked. 80% knew their
stalker. The most common response among females was to ignore the stalker,
and among males was to confront the stalker.
1997 J Forensic Sci 42;4:666-9
Fremouw, W. J., Westrup, D.,
and Pennypacker, J.
11729025 JA
A study of women who stalk
Stalkers were four times more
likely to be male than female. Female stalkers were mainly motivated by
the desire to establish intimacy, and their victims were 95% known to
them, usually a professional contact, while men mainly stalked strangers
or previous partners. Telephone calls were the primary method for women,
and following for men. Women were just as likely to destroy property as
men, but men more often escalated to physical assaults.
2001 Am J Psychiatry
158;12:2056-60
Purcell, R., Pathe, M., and
Mullen, P. E.
[Top]
Psychological effects
10808831 JA
"Living in hell": the
experience of being stalked
Stalking victims often have to
undergo significant life adjustments, and instilled fear may persist years
later. "The stalking is pervasive. It consumes you, your whole life
changes. There's not one minute of the day that you don't have that
foremost in your mind." Victims need to be assessed for anxiety,
depression, dissociative reactions and PTSD.
1999 Issues Ment Health Nurs
20;5:473-84
Draucker, C. B.
11476643 N
Stalking disrupts lives, leaves
emotional scars: perpetrators are often mentally ill
Article delineates the daily
details of stalking, with victims using terms such as "emotional rape" and
"psychological terrorism". The new issue of cyberstalking is discussed, as
well as practical information for victims.
2001 JAMA 286;5:519, 522-3
Lamberg, L.
9068768 JA
The impact of stalkers on their
victims
An interview questionnaire of
stalking victims reported 34% were physically or sexually assaulted, 94%
had had to make major changes in their social and work lives, 24% had
considered suicide, 37% had PTSD and 18% subsyndromal PTSD, and 83% had
increased anxiety. Present legal and medical responses are inadequate for
these victims.
1997 Br J Psychiatry 170;12-7
Pathe, M. and Mullen, P. E.
11329404 JA
Traumatic distress among
support-seeking female victims of stalking
In this study of female Dutch
stalking victims, 55% had been assaulted, and 59% reported significant
psychological morbidity including PTSD.
2001 Am J Psychiatry
158;5:795-8
Kamphuis, J. H. and Emmelkamp,
P. M.
[Top]
Violence
11714152 JA
Predicting violent behavior in
stalkers: a preliminary investigation of Canadian cases in criminal
harassment
Stalkers with previous violent
behaviors, strong negative emotions, and obsessional tendencies toward the
victim were most at risk for future violent acts. Initial legal remedies
seemed to be ineffective, as most stalkers chose to ignore them.
2001 J Forensic Sci
46;6:1403-10
Morrison, K. A.
10972513 JA
Stalking by former intimates:
verbal threats and other predictors of physical violence
In the stalking scenario, there
was a significant correlation between verbal threats and subsequent
violence. Drug and alcohol abuse were significantly associated with
committing physical injury.
2000 Violence Vict 15;1:41-54
Brewster, M. P.
9664259 JA
Violent versus nonviolent
stalkers
In looking at many variables
among violent and non-violent stalkers, approaching statistical
significance was the finding that violent stalkers were more likely to
have had a previous attachment to their victims.
1998 J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
26;2:241-5
Schwartz-Watts, D. and Morgan,
D. W.
12030246 JA
Intimate partner stalking and
femicide: urgent implications for women's safety
Following or spying upon a
woman by a stalker was associated with a two fold, and threatening to harm
a woman's children a nine-fold, risk of subsequent murder or attempted
murder of the woman.
2002 Behav Sci Law 20;1-2:51-68
McFarlane, J., Campbell, J. C.,
and Watson, K.
[Top]
Internet
11931372 JA
Forensic psychiatry and the
internet: practical perspectives on sexual predators and obsessional
harassers in cyberspace
Article reviews for the
forensic psychiatrist the use of the internet by sexual predators and
obsessional harassers. For the stalker, the internet can be used to obtain
information, monitor and contact victims, develop fantasy, overcome
inhibitions, avoid apprehension, and communicate with other offenders.
2002 J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
30;1:81-94
McGrath, M. G. and Casey, E.
10509940 R,T
Stalking in cyberspace
Article discusses the
psychological profile of the cyberstalker, specific legal issues, and
methods of intervention.
1999 J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
27;3:407-13
Deirmenjian, J. M.
