HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Phillips, R. T. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Phillips, R. T. M.

Assessing Presidential Stalkers and Assassins

Dr. Phillips is Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Maryland Schools of Medicine and Law, Baltimore, MD, and Consulting Psychiatrist, Protective Intelligence Division, United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Secret Service or the Department of Homeland Security. Address correspondence to: Robert T. M. Phillips, MD, PhD, Forensic Consultation Associates, Inc., 1726 Deacon Way Annapolis, MD 21409-5872

A considerable body of research on stalking has helped in our understanding of what motivates and characterizes this behavior. The stalking typologies that have evolved fall short, however, when we attempt to use them to understand persons who have pursued the President of the United States. Because of this shortcoming, the author (a consultant to the United States Secret Service) has had to develop a unique framework for understanding persons who have threatened, approached, or attacked Presidents of the United States or have appeared at the White House without invitation. The author has developed a technique that integrates psychiatric diagnosis with a conceptualization of what is known about others who have acted similarly. By codifying their actions based on motive, presence or absence of delusions, active psychosis, and intent to do harm, the author presents five descriptive categories that he suggests capture the various motivations of presidential stalkers and assassins and characterize the clinical context in which the behavior occurs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. V. James, P. E. Mullen, M. T. Pathe, J. R. Meloy, F. R. Farnham, L. Preston, and B. Darnley Attacks on the British Royal Family: The Role of Psychotic Illness J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, March 1, 2008; 36(1): 59 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Glancy Commentary: Attacks on Royalty--The More We Know, The MoreWe Can Classify J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, March 1, 2008; 36(1): 68 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]