Gender Dysphoria: Concepts, Diagnosis and Clinical Management.

Gender dysphoria is defined as a condition characterized by mental suffering associated with the incongruence between one's experienced gender and their birth-assigned sex. Gender as a construct and gender dysphoria as a condition in need of multidisciplinary intervention have developed as swiftly as their visibility in society, making it mandatory to promote the literacy and education of all healthcare professionals in this area. This article aims to review information based on scientific evidence on people with gender dysphoria and its clinical approach, while contributing to a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory practice of healthcare.

Trans depathologisation and gender identity disorder in Japan: A critical discourse analysis of medical literature, 2010-2022.

Since the depathologisation movement in 2007 to challenge the pathologisation of trans identities in Western psychiatry, significant developments have occurred, including revisions to Standards of Care and diagnostic criteria such as ICD-11's gender incongruence and DSM-5's gender dysphoria, acknowledging gender diversity as an expected part of human development. This paper argues that Japanese medical models reflect global issues but also have unique aspects shaped by cultural and linguistic nuances. Using critical discourse analysis, this paper examines how depathologisation discourses are perceived in the Japanese medical community, focusing on the term seidouitsusei-syogai (gender identity disorder), presenting three ways in which seidouitsusei-syogai is used: psychiatric disorder, syogai/sikkan (impairment/disability/disorder), and diagnostic category. These uses are influenced by legal and social reforms, healthcare access and alignment with international classifications, while the medical profession's authority remains unexamined. Reflecting the structural challenges of diagnostic models in trans medicine, the interpretation of seidouitsusei-syogai differs from the English phrase 'gender identity disorder' due to the specific connotations of syogai in the Japanese context. By examining Japan's approach to depathologisation and medicalisation, this paper enriches the understanding of trans medicine and the impact of depathologisation discourse in Japan.

Coping with Gender Dysphoria in a Rural Environment during Adolescence.

Gender dysphoria is socially more visible and discussed today, but still underdiagnosed. It refers to distress and/or impaired function caused by inconsistency between the sex assigned at birth and gender identification. Clinical manifestations are variable. Lack of training and investment in gender issues make the diagnosis and management in primary care complex, particularly in conservative and isolated communities, with poor access to information and specialized health services. We describe the diagnosis of gender dysphoria and use of a patient centered multidisciplinary and family approach in a 12-year-old rural born adolescent, assigned female at birth. Our aim is to raise awareness of early symptoms and signs of gender dysphoria and problems faced by transgender people and their families during childhood, leading to gender dysphoria, and we hope our successful approach might improve healthcare provision for these patients, particularly in rural areas.

Demographic Differences in Gender Dysphoria Diagnosis and Access to Gender-Affirming Care Among Adolescents.

Purpose: The goal of this article was to identify demographic differences in receipt of gender dysphoria (GD) diagnosis and access to gender-affirming care (GAC) among adolescents whose gender identity and/or pronouns differed from their sex assigned at birth. Methods: Data were from 2444 patients who were 13-17 years old and had a documented gender identity and/or pronouns that differed from their sex assigned at birth in the electronic health record. Adjusted logistic regression models explored associations between demographic characteristics (sex assigned at birth, gender identity, race and ethnicity, language, insurance type, rural status) and presence of GD diagnosis and having accessed GAC. Results: The average predicted probability (Pr) of having received a GD diagnosis was 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.60-0.63) and of having accessed GAC was 0.48 (95% CI = 0.46-0.50). Various significant demographic differences emerged. Notably, Black/African American youth were the least likely to have received a GD diagnosis (Pr = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.33-0.54) and accessed GAC (Pr = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.22-0.43). Although there were no significant differences in GD diagnosis by insurance type, youth using Medicaid, other government insurance, or self-pay/charity care were less likely to have accessed GAC compared with youth using commercial/private insurance. Conclusion: Results indicate significant differences in both receipt of GD diagnosis and accessing GAC by various demographic characteristics, particularly among Black/African American youth. Identification of these differences provides an opportunity to further understand potential barriers and promote more equitable access to GAC among adolescents who desire this care.

Clinical Characteristics in a Sample of Transsexual People / Características clínicas de uma amostra de pessoas transexuais

Abstract Purpose To assess the clinical characteristics of subjects with gender dysphoria (GD). Method A cross-sectional study of adults with GD. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sociodemographic data, clinical data and life habits were recorded. Results Total of 44 subjects participated in the study: 36 (82%) trans women and 8 (18%) trans men. Forty-three (98%) of the GD patients had anxiety (36 [100%] trans women and 7 [87.5%] trans men), and 36 (82%) had depression (29 [80.5%] trans women and 7 [87.5%] trans men). Suicide had been attempted by 32 (73%) subjects. The rates of depression were lower among the subjects living with partners, parents, or other people than among those living alone (p = 0.03), and it was also lower among the subjects who were married compared to those who were dating or single (p = 0.03). Conclusion Improving the relationship status may reduce the prevalence of depressive symptoms in GD patients. There was a high rate of attempted suicide in this sample.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar as características clínicas de indivíduos com disforia de gênero (DG). Método Estudo transversal com pessoas transexuais. Os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão foram medidos usando a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão. Os dados sociodemográficos, os dados clínicos, e os hábitos de vida foram registrados por meio de um questionário. Resultados Um total de 44 indivíduos participou do estudo: 36 (82%)mulheres trans, e 8 (18%) homens trans. Quarenta e três (98%) destes apresentaram ansiedade, sendo 36 (100%) mulheres trans e 7 (87,5%) homens trans, e 36 (82%) apresentaram depressão, sendo 29 (80,5%) mulheres trans, e 7 (87,5%) homens trans. Um total de 32 (73%) indivíduos já haviam tentado suicídio. Os indivíduos que vivem comparceiros, pais ou outras pessoas tiveramuma menor taxa de depressão do que aqueles que vivem sozinhos (p = 0,03), e os indivíduos que eram casados tiveram uma menor taxa de depressão do que aqueles que estavam namorando ou solteiros (p = 0,03). Conclusão A melhoria do status de relacionamento pode reduzir a prevalência de sintomas depressivos empessoas transexuais. Encontrou-se uma alta taxa de tentativas de suicídio nessa amostra.

Intervenciones terapéuticas en disforia de género de niños y adolescentes / Therapeutic Interventions in gender dysphoria in children and adolescents

El concepto de Identidad de Género (IG) hace referencia a la convicción personal e internalizada de pertenencia a un determinado género y no a otro. Esta experiencia, temprana en el devenir del ser humano, establece los cimientos del desarrollo psicosexual. El distrés psicológico personal que produce el sentimiento de incongruencia entre la identidad de género y el sexo biológico asignado es conocido como Disforia de Género (DG). Los niños y adolescentes con DG constituyen un grupo de riesgo para sufrir problemas de salud mental, tanto por sus sentimientos disfóricos, como por el estigma y aislamiento social y familiar del que pueden ser objeto. Los psiquiatras infanto juveniles deben estar capacitados para evaluar y diagnosticar a aquellos pacientes que presentan estas dificultades, así como ser capaces de ofrecer tratamientos y soporte que les permita reestablecer la salud mental. El presente artículo es una revisión actualizada de los conceptos relacionados con la DG y su abordaje terapéutico, desde un enfoque multidisciplinario.

Gender identity refers to the internal and personal belief that a person belongs to one gender and not the other. This early developmental experience establishes the foundation for psychosexual development. The psychological distress that is produced by the incongruence between gender identity and biological sex is known as Gender Dysphoria (GD). Children and adolescents with GD constitute a risk group for mental health problems, both due to their dysphoria and the social stigma and isolation they may suffer. Child and adolescent psychiatrists need to know how to assess and diagnose patients with these symptoms, and be able to offer treatment and support to help reestablish their mental health. This is an updated review of the concepts related to GD and their treatment, from a multiprofesional perspective.