FOR NICOHWILLIAM ONLY WK7 DQ2

Borderline personality disorder is often viewed as a diagnosis largely given to women, whereas antisocial personality disorder is considered a man's diagnosis. Given your understanding of gender roles in society, why do you think this dichotomy exists?

Please use this for Reference: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER ( PAGE 645 IN DSM-5

PERSONALITY DISORDER ( PAGE 761 IN DSM-5)

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE ANSWER FROM A STUDENT; Societal views about men and women vary greatly between one another. The roles that men and women are supposed to take, how they act, how they express their feelings, and even what they are to contribute to the family seem to be set by the views that society holds as “normal”. This typically seems to center around views such as men being tough, never showing emotions, being strong, supporting their family, and working hard and women being feminine, taking care of chores and the house, raising children, having lots of emotions, and not being as strong as men.

Borderline personality disorder is distinguished by features such as instability of self-image, problems with interpersonal relationship, impulsivity, risk taking, and difficulties with identity, self-direction, and intimacy (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). It is easy to see how these features may be mirrored as problems that women would experience. Antisocial personality disorder is distinguished by features such as having problems with authority and obeying the law, lack of concern for others, egocentric, manipulation, and risk taking (APA, 2013). Again, it is easy to see how these features may be contributed to men. For these reasons, it is important for counselors to remember their own biases and societal views. The need to remember their ethical codes and guidelines that insist that they do not let these interfere with their clinical judgment. By doing this, then hopefully a more accurate diagnosis will be made for the client.

REPLY TO THE STUDENT FROM THE PROFESSOR:I think one of the reasons we see this dichotomy is because the symptoms are more related to what we see as being the roles of men and women.  Men are not supposed to be emotionally needy and sexually manipulative so they do not get the BPD diagnsosis as often.  In contrast, women are not supposed to be narcissitic and not care what others think of them, so we see more males diagnosed with APD.   Do you think it is because more women really have BPD and men have ASPD?  Or, do you feel we attribute diagnoses based on our expectations of roles of men and women?

Thanks,