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Dear Medical/Health Reporter:

Fact: : Husbands or partners who stalk their partners are four times more likely than husbands or partners in the general population to physically assault their partners. And they are six times more likely than husbands and partners in the general population to sexually assault their partners.

While stalkers can be men or women, an overwhelming majority are male. Women are significantly more likely than men to be stalked by an intimate, such as a husband, cohabitating partner or date. It is estimated that 8% of women have been stalked at some point during their lifetime.

On average, stalking cases last 1.8 years. However, stalking cases involving intimates or former intimates last, on average, significantly longer than stalking cases involving nonintimates. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, stalking is a much bigger problem than previously assumed. Stalking is now a major social and legal issue as well as a clinical problem for mental health professionals.

Many stalkers have no obvious criminal intentions. They may want to initiate a new relationship or restore a failed one. The issue surrounds the manner in which this goal is pursued. Does it distress or frighten a reasonable person? Stalking is defined as repeated and persistent unwanted communications or approaches that produce fear in the victim.

Stalking has a considerable impact on the victim's psychological and social well-being. Victims are often forced to restrict their activities and severely restructure their lives. Many develop significant anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbance. Feelings of powerlessness and depression are common.

As a service to your community, the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Psychologists in Independent Practice would like to offer a psychologist in your area to speak with you on this topic. He/She would be able to discuss the impact of stalking on the victim and how this may be reduced. Also, for the stalker, psychotherapy is important to understand their pattern of behavior and to learn how to end it before they get themselves into legal problems.

APA’s Psychologists in Independent Practice represents independent psychologists, each of whom is a doctoral level professional licensed by his or her particular state. When you need to talk to someone who can help, you need an experienced, licensed psychologist.

I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,