BACKGROUND: No studies have assessed psychopathology among victims of stalking who have not sought specialist help. AIMS: To examine the associations between stalking victimisation and psychiatric morbidity in a representative community sample. METHOD: A random community sample (n=1844) completed surveys examining the experience of harassment and current mental health. The 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Impact of Event Scale were used to assess symptomatology in those reporting brief harassment (n=196) or protracted stalking (n=236) and a matched control group reporting no harassment (n=432). RESULTS: Rates of caseness on the GHQ-28 were higher among stalking victims (36.4%) than among controls (19.3%) and victims of brief harassment (21.9%). Psychiatric morbidity did not differ according to the recency of victimisation, with 34.1% of victims meeting caseness criteria 1 year after stalking had ended. CONCLUSIONS: In a significant minority of victims, stalking victimisation is associated with psychiatric morbidity that may persist long after it has ceased. Recognition of the immediate and long-term impacts of stalking is necessary to assist victims and help alleviate distress and long-term disability.
BACKGROUND: No studies have assessed psychopathology among victims of stalking who have not sought specialist help. AIMS: To examine the associations between stalking victimisation and psychiatric morbidity in a representative community sample. METHOD: A random community sample (n=1844) completed surveys examining the experience of harassment and current mental health. The 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Impact of Event Scale were used to assess symptomatology in those reporting brief harassment (n=196) or protracted stalking (n=236) and a matched control group reporting no harassment (n=432). RESULTS: Rates of caseness on the GHQ-28 were higher among stalking victims (36.4%) than among controls (19.3%) and victims of brief harassment (21.9%). Psychiatric morbidity did not differ according to the recency of victimisation, with 34.1% of victims meeting caseness criteria 1 year after stalking had ended. CONCLUSIONS: In a significant minority of victims, stalking victimisation is associated with psychiatric morbidity that may persist long after it has ceased. Recognition of the immediate and long-term impacts of stalking is necessary to assist victims and help alleviate distress and long-term disability.
Authors: Kylie M Gray; Andrea M Piccinin; Scott M Hofer; Andrew Mackinnon; Daniel E Bontempo; Stewart L Einfeld; Trevor Parmenter; Bruce J Tonge Journal: Res Dev Disabil Date: 2011-02-03
Authors: Matt R Nobles; Robert J Cramer; Samantha A Zottola; Sarah L Desmarais; Tess M Gemberling; Sarah R Holley; Susan Wright Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2018-07-12 Impact factor: 4.328