The emergence and persistence of stalking during hospitalization: Application of the Offence Paralleling Behavior framework

Mental disorder is common amongst those who engage in stalking. When mentally disordered patients with a history of stalking are admitted to hospital for psychiatric treatment their stalking behavior may persist. Stalking behavior might also have its onset during hospitalization and continue following discharge. Stalking may emerge following dissatisfaction with treatment providers or because patients misinterpret treatment as affection. In both situations mental health staff may be victimized. This paper considers the application of the Offense Paralleling Behavior (OPB) framework to stalking behavior in hospitalised mentally disordered patients. Application of this framework may result in increase awareness of the relevance of behavior occurring within hospital to pre-admission and post-discharge criminal behavior. It is recommended that individuals with a known history of stalking and those patients with personal characteristics associated with stalking be assessed on admission and monitored during their hospital stay for stalking related OPB. Monitoring and analysis of contingencies associated with OPB may help identify the determinants of persistent and emergent stalking so that treatment and risk management interventions can be developed