Abnormal Attentions Toward The British Royal Family: Factors Associated With Approach and Escalation

David V. James; J. Reid Meloy; Paul E. Mullen; Michele T. Pathé; Frank R. Farnham; Lulu F. Preston; Brian J. Darnley

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Table 1

Escalation and Characteristics of Communication

	Communication, No Approach n = 53	Communication and Approach Group Compared With Communication, No Approach Group n (%)χ², pφOdds Ratio (95% CI)			Comparison of Breach Against No Breach
	Communication, No Approach n = 53	All Cases n = 79	No Breach Activity n = 53	Breach Activity n = 26	Comparison of Breach Against No Breach
Sex, male	29 (60.4)	56 (70.0)	36 (67.9)	19 (73.1)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.098	0.078	0.127	0.047
Ethnic minority	^*	17 (22.1)	14 (28.0)	3 (11.5)	NS
					−0.181
Age	^*	41.7 (SD 12.8)	41.0 (SD 13.3)	42.5 (SD 12.3)	NS
Form of communication
More than one method	2 (3.8)	20 (25.0)	12 (22.6)	8 (30.8)
		10.405, 0.001	8.230, 0.004	11.498, exact 0.002	NS
		0.280	0.279	0.381	0.092
		8.476 (1.894–34.46)	7.463 (1.580–35.714)	11.363 (2.178–58.825)
Multiple contacts	26 (49.1)	63 (78.8)	41 (77.4)	22 (84.6)
		12.697, 0.000	9.127, 0.003	9.251, 0.002	NS
		0.309	0.293	0.342	0.099
		3.846 (1.802–8.197)	3.546 (1.534–8.197)	5.714 (1.730–18.868)
Telephone calls	4 (7.5)	22 (27.8)	13 (24.5)	8 (32.0)
		8.265, 0.004	5.675, 0.017	7.803, exact 0.015	NS
		0.250	0.231	0.316	0.063
		4.717 (1.524–14.706)	3.984 (1.203–13.158)	5.780 (1.538–21.739)
Also sent communications to a nonroyal	9 (17.0)	26 (32.5)	14 (26.4)	11 (42.3)
		3.960, 0.047	NS	5.918, 0.015	NS
		0.173	0.114	0.742	0.145
		2.353 (1.001–5.556)		3.584 (1.245–10.309)
Language of communication
Threatening	8 (15.1)	8 (10.0)	1 (1.9)	6 (23.1)
		NS	5.950, exact 0.031	NS	7.319, exact 0.023
		−0.077	−0.237	0.098	0.302
			0.108 (0.013–0.898)		7.800 (1.452–41.908)
Demand	13 (24.5)	26 (32.5)	15 (28.3)	11 (42.3)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.086	0.043	0.182	0.194
Abusive	9 (17.0)	5 (6.3)	2 (3.8)	3 (11.5)
		3.898, 0.048	4.970, 0.026	NS	NS
		−0.171	−0.217	−0.071	0.152
		0.326 (0.103–0.999)	0.192 (0.039–0.935)
Content of communication
Anger/hostility	17 (32.1)	15 (18.8)	5 (9.4)	9 (34.6)
		NS	8.260, 0.004	NS	6.364, exact 0.016
		−0.153	−0.279	0.025	0.282
			0.221 (0.074–0.654)		4.235 (1.312–13.670)
Requests for help	13 (24.5)	30 (37.5)	20 (37.7)	10 (38.5)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.136	0.143	0.144	0.014
Amorous feelings	6 (11.3)	16 (20.3)	10 (18.9)	6 (24.0)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.117	0.105	0.164	0.063
Offers of help	7 (13.2)	8 (10.1)	5 (9.4)	3 (12.0)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.048	−0.060	−0.017	0.042
Content of communication (Cont'd)
Sexualized	3 (5.7)	1 (1.3)	1 (1.9)	0 (0.0)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.126	−0.099	−0.139	−0.078
Confused/rambling	34 (64.2)	43 (53.8)	28 (52.8)	15 (57.7)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.103	−0.115	−0.063	0.055

* Insufficient data available.

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Table 2

Escalation, Mental State, and Motivation

	Communication, No Approach n = 53	Communication and Approach Group Compared With Communication, No Approach Group n (%)χ², pφOdds Ratio (95% CI)			Comparison of Breach Against No Breach
		All Cases n = 79	No Breach Activity n = 53	Breach Activity n = 26	Comparison of Breach Against No Breach
Mental state
Serious mental illness	37 (69.8)	73 (91.3)	49 (92.5)	23 (88.5)
		10.245, 0.001	8.874, 0.003	NS	NS
		0.278	0.289	0.205	−0.068
		4.505 (1.706–11.905)	5.291 (1.634–17.241)
Fixated on a person	45 (84.9)	72 (90.0)	47 (88.7)	24 (92.3)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.077	0.056	0.105	0.053
Fixated on a cause	7 (13.2)	9 (11.3)	6 (11.3)	3 (11.5)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.029	−0.029	−0.024	0.006
Deluded	24 (45.3)	66 (82.5)	44 (83.0)	21 (80.8)
		20.183, 0.000	16.409, 0.000	8.960, 0.003	NS
		0.390	0.393	0.337	−0.032
		5.682 (2.564–12.500)	5.917 (2.404–14.493)	5.747 (1.664–15.385)
Grandiose	14 (26.4)	59 (73.8)	40 (75.5)	18 (69.2)	NS
		28.847, 0.000	25.519, 0.000	13.269, 0.000	−0.071
		0.466	0.491	0.410
		7.813 (3.559–17.241)	8.547 (3.571–20.408)	6.250 (2.232–17.544)
Feeling persecuted	11 (20.8)	24 (30.0)	21 (39.6)	3 (11.5)
		NS	4.476, 0.034	NS	6.252, 0.012,
		0.103	0.205	−0.113	−0.280
			2.506 (1.058–5.952)		0.205 (0.055–0.769)
Incoherent/confused	33 (62.3)	45 (56.3)	31 (58.5)	14 (53.8)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.060	−0.039	−0.081	−0.034
Suicidal ideation	0 (0.0)	2 (2.5)	1 (1.9)	1 (3.8)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.101	0.098	0.168	0.060
Homicidal ideation	5 (9.4)	2 (2.5)	1 (1.9)	1 (3.8)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.152	−0.163	−0.099	0.060
Motivational type
Delusions of royalty	6 (11.3)	24 (30.0)	14 (26.4)	9 (34.6)
		6.368, 0.012	3.944, 0.047	6.153, exact 0.029	NS
		0.219	0.193	0.279	0.070
		3.356 (1.266–8.923)	2.809 (0.987–8.000)	4.149 (1.282–13.333)
Intimacy seekers	7 (13.2)	16 (20.0)	8 (15.1)	8 (30.8)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		0.088	0.027	0.210	0.187
Amity seekers	4 (7.7)	17 (21.8)	13 (24.5)	4 (16.7)
		4.581, 0.032	5.483, 0.019	NS	NS
		0.188	0.229	0.136	−0.083
		3.344 (1.056–10.638)	3.906 (1.179–12.987)
Royally persecuted	2 (3.8)	1 (1.3)	1 (1.9)	0 (0.0)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.084	−0.059	−0.112	−0.076
Querulants	3 (5.8)	3 (3.8)	1 (1.9)	2 (8.3)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.045	−0.101	0.048	0.156
Motivational type (Cont’d)
Seeking help/sanctuary	7 (13.5)	7 (9)	7 (13.5)	0 (0.0)
		NS	NS	NS	NS
		−0.071	0.004	−0.216	−0.209
Counselors	14 (26.9)	6 (7.7)	6 (11.3)	0 (0.0)
		8.864, 0.003	4.144, 0.042	7.921 exact 0.003	NS
		−0.261	−0.199	−0.323	−0.192
		0.226 (0.080–0.636)	0.347 (0.122–0.988)	0.613 (0.503–0.747)
Chaotic	9 (17.3)	4 (5.1)	3 (5.7)	1 (4.2)
		5.142, 0.023	NS	NS	NS
		−0.199	−0.183	−0.181	−0.029
		0.258 (0.075–0.889)

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Table 3.

Logistic Regression and Goodness of Fit Statistics

Logistic Regression Model for Escalation
	β	Wald	p	OR	95% CI
Multiple communications	1.002	5.213	.022	2.723	1.15–6.436
Grandiosity	1.912	20.428	.000	6.769	2.954–15.512
Multiple means of communication	1.632	3.869	.049	5.113	1.006–25.993
Constant	−7.721	18.412	.000	.000