S-57-01

Stalkers of prominent people

D. James. Royal Free Hospital School of London, United Kingdom

S-57-02

Stalking and domestic violence: Theoretical implications and

empirical results

H.-G. Voss. Technische Universität Darmsta, Darmstadt,

Germany

S-57-03

Prevalence, nature and social consequences of stalking in the community

P. Gass. Zentralinstitut Psychiatry, Mannheim, Germany

Objective: Community-based studies on prevalence rates of stalking and the impact of stalking on victims in European countries are rare. The present study examined lifetime and point prevalence rates of stalking, behavioural and psychological consequences for victims in a German community sample from a middle-sized city.

Methods: A postal survey was conducted with a stratified random sample selected from the Mannheim residents register. 679 subjects responded. The survey included a stalking questionnaire, the WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ).

Results: 11.6% of the respondents (women: 17.3%, men: 3.7%) were stalking victims (lifetime prevalence). In 75.6% the stalker was known to them (in 32.1%a prior intimate partner). 73.1% of victims reported that they had changed their lifestyle. Physical assaults were reported by 30.8%, including restraint (24.4%), beating (11.5%) or hitting (9.0%). 42.3% had been sexually harassed, 19.2% had experienced sexual assaults. A report to the police was made by 20.5% of the victims, and 11.5% sought help from a lawyer. 61.5% reported having received social support from relatives and friends.

Conclusion: This study revealed a high lifetime prevalence of stalking in a German community that was strikingly similar as reported for American and Australian communities. The findings have to be discussed with respect to effects on victims' mental and physical health and potential legislative measure to protect the victims.

S-57-04

Mental health impact of stalking on victims - a community-based study

C. Kuehner. CIMH Genetic Epidemiology, Mannheim, Germany

Objective: Existing studies on the health impact of stalking victimization are scarce and restricted to the investigation of selected victim samples. The present study aimed at assessing the mental health impact of stalking victimization by using a population-based approach and standardized mental health assessments.

Methods: A postal survey was conducted with a stratified random sample selected from the Mannheim residents register. A total of 679 subjects responded. The survey included a stalking questionnaire, the WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ).

Results: Almost 12% of the respondents (women: 17.3%, men: 3.7%) reported having been stalked. A multiple regression analysis revealed a significant effect of stalking victimization on psychological well-being (WHO-5), even when demographic and psychological variables connected with mental health were adjusted for. Male victims were similarly affected as female victims. The victim perpetrator relationship (ex-partner vs. else) did not moderate the association between stalking victimization and psychological well-being. Victims displayed higher point prevalence rates of common mental disorders according to DSMIV (PHQ), and a higher rate of comorbid disorders than nonvictims.

Conclusion: This study revealed a high lifetime prevalence of stalking in the community. Effects on victims' mental health are significant, suggesting that the phenomenon deserves more attention in future research.

S-57-05

Stalking and the helping professional: Importance of the setting

G. M. Galeazzi. Community Mental Health Service of Sassuolo, Sassuolo, Italy

Objective: Helping professionals and, in particular, mental health professionals, may be at high risk of being stalked by patients. The author reviews the literature on the topic and reports on a survey study on stalking to mental health professionals of an Italian Province.

Methods: A total number of 16 papers were included in the review from a Medline and Psychinfo search. Inclusion criterion was an explicit reference to "stalking" or at least two repeated acts of harassment to a mental health professional by patients. A survey was sent to 475 mental health professionals of the Province of Modena, Italy. 363 (76%) responded. Stalking was defined as repeated (more than 10) and persistent (longer than four weeks) intrusions which caused fear.

Results: Despite variations in the definition of stalking used, available research shows that stalking by patients is a common occurrence for mental health professionals, with a wide range of reported cumulative incidence (from 6 to 37%). Stalking in the therapeutic relationship can be interpreted as a boundary violation of the therapeutic setting. In the Modena Survey, 40 respondents (11.1%) had been victims of stalking with male gender and being a psychiatrist or psychologist, instead of a psychiatric nurse or having another role, representing a risk factor for victimization.

Conclusion: Clinicians should pay attention to privacy issues and take seriously very initial signs of intrusiveness and of misinterpretation by the patient of therapeutic care as a sign of romantic attachment.