Stalking

Question 1

DeClerambault Syndrome

Answer 1

• commonly known as erotomania
• suffers convinced another person is in love with them
• course is usually chronic
• often produces stalking behaviors: repetitive calling, unexpected visits, continuous attempts to send gifts or letters

Question 2

basic elements of stalking definitions/laws

Answer 2

1) pattern of unwanted contact
2) implicit/explicit threat
3) fearful victim

Question 3

most and least common clinical dx in stalkers

Answer 3

personality disorders (50%)
psychotic disorder (10%)

Question 4

common denominators in stalkers (Mackenzie 2011)

Answer 4

ENTITLEMENT
- rationalize and justify behaviors
- contend they have a “right” regarding concerns about the victim, that takes precedence over all other concerns
INDIFFERENCE to victim’s fears/desires
- lack of concern for victim’s feelings “in the absence of obvious psychopathology”
SKILLS DEFICITS
- pursue victims for “relationship” via maladaptive means

Question 5

most violent stalkers

Answer 5

ex-intimate (65%)

Question 6

Mullen Typology Characteristics

Answer 6

REJECTED
- pursue ex-intimate, desiring reconciliation/revenge
- personality disorders predominate
INTIMACY SEEKING
- desire relationship with “true love”
- oblivious to victim response
- most with erotomanic delusions
- put victim on a pedestal
INCOMPETENT
- acknowledge victim’s disinterest, but hope behavior leads to intimacy
- tend toward lower IQ
RESENTFUL
- feel persecuted and desire retribution
- intend to frighten/distress
- paranoid dx
PREDATORY
- preparing for sexual attack
- stalk to study and observe
- paraphilias, serial adult rapists
- prior sex offenses
- no warnings before attack

Question 7

stalker response to mgmt (Mullen typologies)

Answer 7

REJECTED TYPE
- legal sanctions ineffective
- MH support: approp tx to reduce risk
INTIMACY SEEKERS
- legal sanctions ineffective
- poorly dissuaded by jail time (“price of true love”)
- often require court-ordered tx
- likely to continue stalking after release if delusions not treated
INCOMPETENT
- interpersonal and skills training often required
- likely to drop one victim only to pursue another
RESENTFUL
- difficult to engage in tx
- legal sanctions may inflame
- court ordered tx often needed w/paranoid psychoses
PREDATORY
- incarceration often required
- may also require anti-androgen tx of paraphilia