Stalking behaviors and Personality Disorders: A systematic review.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review examined personality disorders (PDs) in mixed clinical-forensic populations with stalking behavior. Following a search of Medline/PubMed and Scopus, 12 papers were included from an initial 200; the reviewed studies covered 2378 people with stalking behavior, 14% of whom were female. The review found a higher prevalence of PDs among stalkers, particularly Cluster B disorders. PDs were also associated with recurrent stalking, while evidence about their role in violent behavior was inconsistent. The authors describe PD diagnosis as a risk factor associated with stalking behavior.

Key findings

• The review included 12 papers from an initial 200 and covered 2378 people with stalking behavior; 14% were female.
• PDs, particularly Cluster B disorders, were more prevalent among people with stalking behavior.
• PDs appeared associated with recurrent stalking, but findings on their role in violent behavior were inconsistent.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that personality profiles may be relevant when assessing stalking behavior and recurrence. However, the inconsistent evidence concerning violence means PDs should not be treated as a reliable indicator of violent behavior. The review highlights the potential value of more precise psychological assessment in research on prevention and intervention planning.

What to keep in mind

The review included only 12 papers, and the underlying populations were mixed clinical-forensic samples. Findings about the relationship between PDs and violent behavior were inconsistent.