Gender Bias in the Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder: The case of inappropriate anger as diagnostic criterion
Gendering in Research Network: Talk by Astrid Fly Oredsson, CEPDISC, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University
Info about event
Time
Location
IMC meeting room, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, building 1483, room 312
![](/fileadmin/interacting_minds/IMC_people_photos/Astrid_Fly_Oredsson.jpg)
Abstract
Although studies of general population samples have reported fairly equal rates of men and women amongst those who satisfy the criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD), an estimated 70-75% of those clinically diagnosed with BPD are women. While it has been posited that this difference in rates between clinical and non-clinical samples can be explained by a higher propensity amongst women to seek medical assistance, I explore an alternative, yet not inconsistent, explanation: namely, that psychiatric taxonomy contributes to gender bias in the clinical application of BPD criteria, thus, leading to an overrepresentation of women amongst those with a formal diagnosis.
The focus of my talk is the “inappropriate anger” criterion which is vaguely defined re-lying on unclear terminology such as having “temper”, “enduring bitterness,” and “verbal out-bursts” as illustrative examples. The vagueness of the criterion increases the risk of non-expert judgements and prejudices influencing clinical decision-making and diagnostic processes. And in the case of anger, this is likely to disproportionately affect women.
About the speaker
Read more about Astrid Fly Oredsson here.