Stalking: Psychiatric Perspectives and Practical Approaches is edited by Debra A. Pinals, who worked with members of the Committee on Psychiatry and the Law of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) to conceptualize and prepare the book. The authors' stated goals include: presenting stalking from several perspectives, identifying and appraising current clinical research about stalking, and providing practical guidance with original commentary. They accomplish the latter goal by including excerpts from the committee's discussions and reviews of the current stalking literature, along with comments about potential directions for future research.
The book is divided into four parts: “Introduction,” “Clinical Aspects of Stalking,” “Stalking and the Law,” and “Special Issues.” The introduction by Paul Mullen provides an excellent overview of the history of stalking and contemporary clinical questions raised regarding the evaluation of stalkers. Some of the challenges associated with stalking research are arriving at a commonly accepted definition of stalking and establishing a classification system of stalking behavior. This book applies the classification scheme proposed by Mullen and his colleagues, which uses a stalker's motivation as the primary factor in categorization.
Most authors of the chapters are nationally recognized scholars. The chapters by Phillip J. Resnick and James Knoll present clinically useful information about the risk assessment and risk management of stalking. The volume includes chapters that focus on various statutory schemes and forensic evaluations of stalkers. Excellent summaries of stalking in special populations are reviewed in the chapters about stalking among juveniles, cyberstalking, and targeting of celebrities and presidents.
Perhaps the most interesting component of the book is the commentary provided by the GAP Committee on Psychiatry and the Law. Their comments are present throughout the book and shed light on the discussions, debates, and conclusions drawn by the committee.
One of the book's weaknesses is the absence of a chapter on clinical treatment of stalkers. Dr. Knoll's chapter, “Risk Management of Stalking,” provides some guidelines but lacks a comprehensive discussion of the efficacy of biological and psychological treatment as outlined in the scientific literature.
In conclusion, Stalking: Psychiatric Perspectives and Practical Approaches is well written and informative. I recommend it to clinicians and forensic evaluators who work with this population. The book is useful as a framework for individuals who treat stalkers, but is not a comprehensive source of treatment methodologies.
- American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
