Does Darth Vader have borderline personality disorder?

Star Wars villain Darth Vader (aka Anakin Skywalker) has apparently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. That is, according to French psychiatrist Eric Bui in a letter that was due to appear in the journal Psychiatry Research 26 May 2010.

Is Anakin Skywalker suffering from borderline personality disorder?
Abstract
Anakin Skywalker, one of the main characters in Star Wars, meets the criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). This finding is interesting for it may partly explain the commercial success of these movies among adolescents and be useful in educating the general public and medical students about BPD symptoms.

Has Dr Bui thought about the connotations for those around the world who have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, possibly the most stigmatising of all mental illnesses, to now be linked with this infamously evil character?

In my opinion, this type of ‘research’ moves us away from a humanistic, personalised, recovery model in which we see people for themselves first, rather than defining them by symptoms. But, of course, sensationalism sells – even it would seem in research journals.

Dr Bui’s letter talks about watching the Star Wars movies while teaching students about the disorder, and used Darth Vader’s (or Anakin Skywalker as he was known in the prequels) behaviour to explain the diagnostic criteria. This leads me to wonder how these students will feel when they eventually encounter someone with the diagnosis. Will they be on the look-out for a dark helmet, heavy breathing and a deftly-used light sabre? Or will they be able to see past their lecturer’s stigmatising comments, and view the person behind the diagnosis?

Dr Bui’s approach does not seem to be novel. A simple Google search brings up articles diagnosing Eeyore, from Winnie The Pooh, with mild dysthymic disorder, and the lead characters of Twilight with either psychosis or negative automatic thoughts, which they suggest can be easily treated with a course of cognitive behaviour therapy.

What do you think?  Is diagnosing fictional characters simply a good way to bring diagnostic criteria to life, or does it further stigmatise people experiencing mental distress? Or does it depend on the character being diagnosed?

Read more about Eric Bui’s letter: Is Anakin Skywalker suffering from borderline personality disorder?


Jade Caulfield, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds, Like Mine