Masochistic personality disorder. A prototype analysis of diagnosis and sex bias

J Nerv Ment Dis. 1989 Mar;177(3):168-72.

Abstract

The Work Group of the American Psychiatric Association to revise DSM-III in 1985 proposed a new personality disorder titled Masochistic Personality Disorder (MPD). This study concerns the clinical relevance and possible sex bias of MPD. The study was performed with clinicians who analyzed 15 case histories, five of which represented masochistic personality. The results led to the rejection of two hypotheses: a) masochistic personalities can be subsumed under existing DSM-III categories and b) there is a sex bias in the diagnostic use of MPD.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Masochism*
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis
  • Sex Factors