@article{ref1,
title="Association between stalking victimisation and psychiatric morbidity in a random community sample",
journal="British journal of psychiatry",
year="2005",
author="Purcell, Rosemary and Pathé, Michele and Mullen, Paul E.",
volume="187",
number="",
pages="416-420",
abstract="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.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1250",
doi="10.1192/bjp.187.5.416",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.187.5.416"
}