Protecting the prominent? A research journey with Paul Mullen

Abstract

Recent research from the United Kingdom has called into question entrenched assumptions from the USA about public fi gure threat assessment, in particular the low importance given to mental illness and to the making of threats. This article reviews some of the evidence, concluding that the high prevalence of psychotic illness in threateners and harassers of public fi gures and the frequency of warning behaviours determines that these factors should be accorded a central role in the assessment and management of such cases. It is noted that data in US studies do not differ greatly from those in UK studies, but rather their interpretation. The practical benefi ts of attending to the factors in question are illustrated by reference to the activities of the United Kingdom's Fixated Threat Assessment Centre. The overlap is noted between the fi elds of public fi gure threat assessment and stalking, which have hitherto developed separately. The issue of public fi gure threat assessment is used to illustrate some of the attitudes and personal qualities which have typifi ed the career and achievements of Paul Mullen in forensic psychiatry research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.