Identifying risk factors in stalking: a review of current research

Int J Law Psychiatry. 2007 Jan-Feb;30(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2006.03.005. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Abstract

Stalking is a behaviour which can cause substantial damage to its victims, whether the perpetrator is violent or not. Victims face a range of risks including not only assault, but persistent or recurrent stalking and varying degrees of psychological and social damage. The responsibility for assessing and managing these risks often falls to the mental health professional, yet the emerging stalking risk assessment literature is at too early a stage to provide clinicians with empirically derived evidence upon which to base their clinical practice. This paper reviews existing research to identify those factors currently believed to be associated with increased risk of physical and sexual assault; with persistent and/or recurrent stalking; and, with psychological and social damage.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Crime / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Crime / psychology
  • Crime Victims / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Dangerous Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Obsessive Behavior / diagnosis*
  • Obsessive Behavior / psychology
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Offenses / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Sex Offenses / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Violence / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Violence / psychology