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Association between stalking victimisation and psychiatric morbidity in a random community sample

Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Fairfield, Victoria, and Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Correspondence: Dr Rosemary Purcell, ORYGEN Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9342 2800; fax: +61 3 9342 2948; e-mail: rpurcell{at}unimelb.edu.au

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgement.

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.

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