Gender differences in aggression associated with mental disorders

Aggressive behavior shows striking gender differences. Cross-cultural research shows that men are more likely to engage in physical aggression, while women tend to use indirect forms of aggressive behavior. Aggression is a multifactorial phenomenon influenced by situational, genetic, psychological and other factors. Despite being a transdiagnostic feature in numerous mental disorders, gender-specific differences and the underlying influencing factors have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Many findings originate from older publications and methodologically sound and in particular behavior-based investigations are rare. This article provides a narrative literature review that summarizes the current state of research on gender differences in aggression in selected mental disorders, including substance use disorders, psychotic disorders and borderline personality disorder. The implications for future research and the clinical practice are discussed.

Krebs, M., Bertsch, K., Herpertz, S. C., & Habel, U. (2025). Gender differences in aggression associated with mental disorders. Der Nervenarzt, 97(1), 20–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-025-01934-3

Contributing projects

• A02: Context effects on threat processing in dependence of testosterone levels

Topics

• Biological Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Negative valence system