OBJECTIVE: The authors examined gender differences in DSM-III-R
personality disorders in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. METHODS:
Structured diagnostic interviews were reliably performed with a series of
138 consecutively admitted adolescent inpatients. To reduce variability due
to heterogeneity of axis I diagnoses, a subgroup of 87 patients with major
depression was retested for gender differences. RESULTS: Females were
significantly more likely than males to meet the criteria for borderline
personality disorder. Narcissistic personality disorder was diagnosed only
in males. A similar pattern was observed in the subgroup of patients with
major depression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest potentially important
gender differences in personality disorders in adolescent inpatients.Abstract Teaser