Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute for Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg.
Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2020 May 15;117(20):347-353. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2020.0347.
In 2003, we carried out the first epidemiological study on the frequency and effects of stalking in Germany that was based on a random population sample. We repeated the study with the same design in 2018 in order to assess any potential alterations over time in the frequency of stalking and of psychological problems in the affected persons. As far as we know, this is the first replication study of this kind to be carried out anywhere.
1000 women and 1000 men were randomly chosen from the residents' registration data of Mannheim, Germany. Each one of them received, by mail, a comprehensive questionnaire about stalking, as well as the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and the German version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D).
In the Mannheim population samples (2003: N = 675; 2018: N = 444), the lifetime prevalence of being stalked was 11.6% in 2003 (95% confidence interval, [9.2; 14.4]) and 10.8% in 2018 [8.1; 13.7]. In both 2003 and 2018, persons who had been stalked had significantly worse mental well-being than unaffected persons (WHO-5 summated score 2003: 11.2 [9.7; 12.6] vs. 15.5 [15.1; 16.0], WHO-5 summated score 2018: 11.8 [10.1; 13.6] vs. 14.5 [13.9; 15.0]). A markedly higher percentage of persons who had been stalked also fulfilled the syndrome criteria for at least one mental disorder (PHQ-D 2003: 50.0% vs. 22.5%; odds ratio [OR]: 3.5 [2.1; 5.6], PHQ-D 2018: 46.5% vs. 24.4%; OR: 2.7 [1.4; 5.1]). In 2018, as in 2003, persons who had been stalked were dissatisfied with, or unaware of, the opportu - nities that they had to get help from the police and the judicial system.
Stalking remains a major problem that must be taken seriously. Physicians and psychologists should be well informed about it in order to help affected persons who turn to them for medical and psychological assistance.
2003 年，我们进行了首次针对德国跟踪频率和影响的流行病学研究，该研究基于随机人口样本。为了评估随着时间的推移，跟踪行为的频率和受影响者的心理问题是否发生任何潜在变化，我们于 2018 年以相同的设计重复了这项研究。据我们所知，这是首次在任何地方进行此类复制研究。
从德国曼海姆的居民登记数据中随机选择了 1000 名女性和 1000 名男性。他们每人通过邮件收到了一份关于跟踪的综合问卷，以及世卫组织幸福感量表（WHO-5）和德国版患者健康问卷（PHQ-D）。
在曼海姆人群样本中（2003 年：N = 675；2018 年：N = 444），2003 年的终生跟踪患病率为 11.6%（95%置信区间，[9.2；14.4]），2018 年为 10.8%（8.1；13.7）。在 2003 年和 2018 年，被跟踪的人心理健康状况明显差于未受影响的人（2003 年 WHO-5 总和得分：11.2 [9.7；12.6] 与 15.5 [15.1；16.0]，2018 年 WHO-5 总和得分：11.8 [10.1；13.6] 与 14.5 [13.9；15.0]）。更多被跟踪的人也符合至少一种精神障碍的综合征标准（PHQ-D 2003 年：50.0%比 22.5%；优势比[OR]：3.5 [2.1；5.6]，PHQ-D 2018 年：46.5%比 24.4%；OR：2.7 [1.4；5.1]）。与 2003 年一样，2018 年被跟踪的人对他们从警察和司法系统获得帮助的机会不满意或不知情。
跟踪仍然是一个必须认真对待的主要问题。医生和心理学家应该对此有充分的了解，以便帮助寻求医疗和心理帮助的受影响者。
