Pursuit of the perfect mother: an unusual case of stalking

Abstract

Objective: To highlight issues of adoption and twinship in an unusual case of stalking.

Clinical picture: An ususual case of same gender, serial stalking which began at an early age in a young woman who was one of a set of twins adopted at birth.

Treatment: Insight orientated psychotherapy.

Outcome: Beneficial outcome in context of clear boundaries, therapist selection and emphasis upon legal consequences of behaviour.

Conclusions: Early disruptions to attachments including adoption and twinship may have relevance in some patterns of adult stalking behaviour.

• adoption
• attachment
• erotomania
• obsessional following
• stalking
• twins