G.M. Galeazzi, P. Curci - Vol. 7, Dicembre 2001, num.4
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
Sindrome del molestatore assillante
(stalking): una rassegna
The tormenting harasser syndrome (stalking):
a review
Objective
To provide the Italian psychiatrist with a detailed review of international literature concerning the legal, epidemiological and psychiatric aspects of stalking, a behavioural pattern also known as borderline erotomania, obsessional harassment and obsessional following, which has gained growing attention by media and psychiatric researchers in the last ten years.
Method
Computerised and manual bibliographic search was performed and articles retrieved. The topics presented cover legal and psychiatric definitions of stalking, epidemiology, prevalence, relevance for the harassment behaviour of psychopathology in the offender, patterns of intrusive communication and harassment used by perpetrators, common victims reactions, proposed typologies of stalkers, threats and risk of violence, psychological effects of stalking on victims and treatment issues.
Results and conclusions
Stalking is a common and complex relational phenomenon often linked to serious
offender’s psychopathology and leading to heavy psychological consequences
for the victims.
The Authors propose and discuss the "sindrome del molestatore assillante"
(tormenting harasser syndrome) as a useful tool to better frame the information
so far available and to guide clinical comprehension and interventions in
stalking cases