IS STALKING CONSIDERED A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER? A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Although stalking is not a recognised psychiatric problem in and of itself, it frequently manifests as a symptom of other mental health issues including OCD, personality disorders, or delusional disorders. An anonymous client named A, a 28-year-old man who was court- mandated to attend counselling after engaging in continuous stalking activity towards a former spouse, is the subject of this case study, which was observed during an internship. According to a Mental Status Examination (MSE), A had delusions about his ex-partner's alleged reciprocation, compulsive ideation, and impaired insight. His incapacity to respect personal limits, which he mistook for displays of adoration, was a major motivator for his acts. A got Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to address his obsessive thoughts, enhance boundaries, and create healthy coping strategies after being diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and aspects of Erotomanic Delusional Disorder. This instance emphasises the significance of specialised treatment approaches as well as the part that underlying mental health conditions play in stalker practices.