SEXUAL SYMMETRY IN PSYCHIATRIC-DIAGNOSIS

While proponents of the psychiatric perspective submit that diagnosis using DSM is sex symmetrical, i.e., males and females with similar men tal illness symptoms receive the same diagnosis, followers of the labe ling perspective argue that diagnosis is not sex symmetrical, i.e., ma les and females with similar symptoms receive diagnosis that is concom itant with sex role expectations. Research provides conflicting eviden ce on the effects of sex on diagnosis, but it has been suggested that the effects of sex found in previous research have been eradicated wit h the introduction of DSM, an ostensibly objective diagnostic system b ased solely on symptomatology. We offer a convergence thesis arguing t hat the effects of sex depend on whether one is using Axis-I clinical or Axis-II personality mental health categories far diagnosis. To test the accuracy of this claim, we asked 152 psychiatrists to use both Ax is-I clinical and Axis-II personality categories to diagnose a case. E ach psychiatrist received either a male, female, or sex-unspecified cl ient with identical symptoms. Results support the convergence thesis s ince diagnosis using DSM-III-R is sex symmetrical when Axis-I clinical disorders are applied and sex asymmetrical when Axis-II personality d isorders are utilized. We conclude that labeling in psychiatric diagno sis based on sex varies across mental health categories.