Obsessional Harassment and Erotomania in a Criminal Court Population

• NCJ Number: 154094
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1995) Pages: 188-196
• Author(s): R B Harmon; R Rosner; H Owens
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Forty-eight cases of persons charged with harassment and menacing in New York County Criminal and Supreme Court and referred for evaluation to the Forensic Psychiatry Clinic between January 1987 and January 1994 were reviewed to determine the incidence of erotomania in this population.

Abstract

Results revealed similarities between cases of erotomania and other affectionate/amorous complaints and cases involving persecutory/angry forms of harassing behavior. When major differences were noted between all harassers and the clinic population as a whole in terms of ethnicity, age, educational level, and sex. The analysis concluded that although erotomania exists; other psychiatric disorders can also be diagnosed in individuals accused or harassing and menacing behavior. From the perspectives of the victim and the criminal justice system, the similarities in behavior patterns are more important than the different diagnoses. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)