Stalking involves repeated and persistent attempts to impose on another person unwanted contact and/or communication. It can have a significant adverse impact on psychological, occupational and social functioning. Mental health professionals are at greater risk than the general population of being stalked.

We assessed the prevalence of stalking behaviour by patients towards psychiatrists working in a large mental health organisation in London, UK.

A questionnaire was sent to all 324 psychiatrists in the service. Stalking was defined as two or more episodes where a patient initiated inappropriate contact outside the normal clinical setting, which caused concern. The response rate was 61%.

Forty-one doctors (21%) were stalked by patients. Most victims were consultants (n=31; 76%). No sub-speciality was over-represented. Most patients had a diagnosis of personality disorder (n=16; 39%) or psychotic illness (n=10; 24%). The majority of stalkers (n=24; 59%) were male, while 49% of victims were female. Sixty-one percent of stalkers were reported to have a previous history of harassment.

Duration of stalking ranged from several weeks to 16 years, with 51% occurring outside the work environment. On average, victims experienced two types of inappropriate contact, most commonly by telephone (n=22; 54%), letter (n=19; 46%) or face-to-face (n=15; 37%). Ten patients loitered while 3 carried out surveillance. Physical threats were made against 14 psychiatrists. None were assaulted.

Stalking by patients towards psychiatrists is common and represents an occupational risk. Healthcare organisations should introduce formal training programmes covering recognition of stalking behaviour and risk-management strategies.