Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria

In DSM-5, the American Psychiatry Association changed the diagnosis of gender identity disorder by adopting the term of gender dysphoria (GD). The development of gender identity is a complex and probably multi-factorial procedure relating to genetic, hormone and environmental factors. GD could be tr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vasiliki Apeiranthitou, George Thomas, Penelope Louka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: InterOPTICS 2019-05-01
Series:Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health
Subjects:
DSM
Online Access:http://www.obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/110
id doaj-01f07bacaa0b473c8040039287f9b7ee
record_format Article
spelling doaj-01f07bacaa0b473c8040039287f9b7ee2020-11-25T01:54:30ZengInterOPTICSDialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health2585-27952019-05-0121728010.26386/obrela.v2i1.110110Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoriaVasiliki ApeiranthitouGeorge ThomasPenelope LoukaIn DSM-5, the American Psychiatry Association changed the diagnosis of gender identity disorder by adopting the term of gender dysphoria (GD). The development of gender identity is a complex and probably multi-factorial procedure relating to genetic, hormone and environmental factors. GD could be traced in two different developmental stages, either during childhood, or during adolescence. Transgenders require safe and effective hormonal support for the development of natural characteristics verifying their gender identity. The main indications for the beginning of the hormonal therapy are verified from the persistent fixation of dysphoria that they experience and the sufficient mental ability to give their consent and accept this irreversible therapy. Health practitioners should act within the framework of their duties, helping people with GD match their external appearance with their internal experience and improve their social functionality. Moreover, the support and proper communication between the family members will contribute to the acceptance of the gender identity, the reinforcement of self-confidence, the reduction of bias, the cause of emotional and behavioural mental disorders and the conquest of a good quality of living.http://www.obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/110gender dysphoriatransgenderdiagnostic criteriaclinical health psychologydepathologizationpsychological distressgender nonconformingDSM
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Vasiliki Apeiranthitou
George Thomas
Penelope Louka
spellingShingle Vasiliki Apeiranthitou
George Thomas
Penelope Louka
Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health
gender dysphoria
transgender
diagnostic criteria
clinical health psychology
depathologization
psychological distress
gender nonconforming
DSM
author_facet Vasiliki Apeiranthitou
George Thomas
Penelope Louka
author_sort Vasiliki Apeiranthitou
title Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
title_short Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
title_full Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
title_fullStr Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
title_full_unstemmed Gender dysphoria: A critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
title_sort gender dysphoria: a critical discussion of the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria
publisher InterOPTICS
series Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health
issn 2585-2795
publishDate 2019-05-01
description In DSM-5, the American Psychiatry Association changed the diagnosis of gender identity disorder by adopting the term of gender dysphoria (GD). The development of gender identity is a complex and probably multi-factorial procedure relating to genetic, hormone and environmental factors. GD could be traced in two different developmental stages, either during childhood, or during adolescence. Transgenders require safe and effective hormonal support for the development of natural characteristics verifying their gender identity. The main indications for the beginning of the hormonal therapy are verified from the persistent fixation of dysphoria that they experience and the sufficient mental ability to give their consent and accept this irreversible therapy. Health practitioners should act within the framework of their duties, helping people with GD match their external appearance with their internal experience and improve their social functionality. Moreover, the support and proper communication between the family members will contribute to the acceptance of the gender identity, the reinforcement of self-confidence, the reduction of bias, the cause of emotional and behavioural mental disorders and the conquest of a good quality of living.
topic gender dysphoria
transgender
diagnostic criteria
clinical health psychology
depathologization
psychological distress
gender nonconforming
DSM
url http://www.obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/110
work_keys_str_mv AT vasilikiapeiranthitou genderdysphoriaacriticaldiscussionoftheunderstandingandtreatmentofgenderdysphoria
AT georgethomas genderdysphoriaacriticaldiscussionoftheunderstandingandtreatmentofgenderdysphoria
AT penelopelouka genderdysphoriaacriticaldiscussionoftheunderstandingandtreatmentofgenderdysphoria
_version_ 1724986988197576704