A rapid evidence assessment of psychological treatment approaches for stalking behaviour

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide practitioners with a brief but comprehensive review of the current evidence base for psychological treatment approaches used in the UK that may be useful for stalking therapies.

Design/methodology/approach

A rapid evidence assessment was conducted on papers (post the UK Protection from Harassment Act, 1997) that discuss treatments of stalking (with or without a conviction) and associated offences/disorders. Therapies reviewed were Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Schema Therapy. Searches for Mentalization-Based Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy in relation to stalking were also performed but yielded no results that met inclusion criteria.

Findings

There is currently a severely limited evidence base for the efficacy of the psychological treatment of stalking behaviours. Some interventions show promise although a multifaceted, formulation-based approach is likely to be required.

Practical implications

Future research would benefit from robust studies focused on stalking with long-term efficacy follow-ups.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first rapid evidence review of psychological treatments that directly address stalking behaviour.

Citation

Leigh, S. and Davies, J. (2022), "A rapid evidence assessment of psychological treatment approaches for stalking behaviour", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 48-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-06-2021-0039