- Higher prevalence of personality disorders, especially Cluster B (antisocial, narcissistic, borderline), observed among individuals exhibiting stalking behaviour.
- Personality disorder diagnoses are associated with recurrent stalking, while evidence remains inconsistent regarding their contribution to the emergence of violent behaviour.
- Precise evaluation of individual psychological profiles is needed to prevent recidivism and plan tailored prevention and treatment strategies.
Clin Ter. 2026 Sep-Oct;177(5):1273-1280. doi: 10.7417/CT.2026.2129.
ABSTRACT
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.
PMID:42664149 | DOI:10.7417/CT.2026.2129
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