The studies all used nonrandom samples of convenience, were published between 1978 and 1995, and involved 180 obsessional followers charged with criminal behavior or investigated by law enforcement. Aggregate data from these studies suggested that obsessional followers were likely to be males in their mid to late 30's with prior psychiatric and criminal histories. They often had a chronic history of failed heterosexual relationships and unemployment, but on average the offenders were more intelligent than other offenders. Axis I mental disorders and Axis II personality disorders were common and varied. Approximately half of obsessional followers threatened the victims, but they usually were not physically violent. The frequency of personal violence ranged from 3 to 36 percent in the different studies. The incidence of homicide was less than 2 percent. Findings suggest that obsessional followers, perhaps a subset of stalkers in general, display abnormal, preoccupied attachment patterns and that their pursuit is fueled by a disturbance in their narcissistic fantasy linking them to their victims. Such disruption is usually caused by an acute or chronic rejection that stimulates rage as a defense against shame. Tables and 39 references (Author abstract modified)