title: Gender Differences in Borderline Personality Disorder: Results From a Multinational, Clinical Trial Sample.
abstract: This study aims to extend previous research by considering gender differences in borderline personality (BPD) using both dimensional self-reported and clinical measures of symptomatology. Drawing from a cross-cultural, clinical trial sample, the authors compared female and male BPD subjects (N = 770; 211 male) between the ages of 18 and 65 using diagnostic and self-report data. The authors found that women with BPD have greater hostility and relationship disruption than men. Gender differences in eating disorders, particularly bulimia, are more divergent than in the general population. Generally, gender differences in BPD in this sample are consistent with known general population differences. Women show greater overall symptomatology, including depressive, anxious, and somatic symptoms. Men have higher rates of antisocial personality disorder and a trend toward higher rates of narcissistic personality disorder. However, several gender differences consistently found in the general population are not present in this BPD sample. There are no differences in aggression, suicidality, substance abuse, panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Gender differences in major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder are attenuated. These findings support the conclusion that BPD may diminish normal gender differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silberschmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: S Charles
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult