Stalking behaviors and Personality Disorders: A systematic review

Background. Stalking, only recently criminalized in some countries, involves persistent harassment with severe psychological effects. Research explores prevalence, typologies, personality profiles, gender differences and the need for prevention and treatment strategies. Methods. A systematic search was conducted on Medline/Pubmed and Scopus in mixed clinical-forensic populations. The analysis included 2378 patients with stalking behavior, 14% of whom were female. Results: According to PRISMA (2021) guidelines, 12 papers were included in the systematic review from an initial sample of 200. A higher prevalence of PDs, particularly within Cluster B (i.e., antisocial, narcissistic, borderline; PD) was observed among stalkers. Moreover, PDs appear to be associated with recurrent stalking behavior, whereas findings remain inconsistent regarding their role in the development of violent behaviors. Conclusions. PD diagnosis appears to be a risk factor associated with stalking behavior. A more precise research focus on the evaluation of the individual’s psychological profile is warranted in order to prevent recidivism and plan tailored interventions.