Gender Differences in Victimization and the Relation to Personality Disorders in Forensic Psychiatry

ABSTRACT

Gender differences in victimization were retrospectively examined in 218 male and 218 female patients who have been admitted to one of four Dutch forensic psychiatric hospitals between 1984 and 2014. Case files were studied and variables relating to victimization and psychopathology were coded. It was found that the prevalence rates of victimization were higher among female patients than among male patients, both during childhood and adulthood. Childhood sexual abuse was found to be more prevalent among women than men, however, no differences were found for emotional and physical abuse or neglect during childhood. Women with a history of emotional or sexual abuse were significantly more often diagnosed with borderline personality disorder than women without childhood victimization. Men with a history of physical abuse were significantly more often diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder than men without childhood victimization. Clinical and policy implications of this study for forensic practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• abuse
• forensic psychiatry
• gender
• personality disorders
• psychopathy
• victimization

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Yvonne Bouman, Gerjonne Akkerman-Bouwsema, Nienke Epskamp, Susanne de Haas, Loes Hagenauw, Paul ter Horst, Stéphanie Klein Tuente, Marike Lancel, Eva de Spa, Jeantine Stam, and Nienke Verstegen for their valuable help and collaboration in this study.