Psychiatry and psychology have a long and highly debated history in relation to gender. In particular, they have attracted criticism for policing the boundaries of ‘normal’ gender expression through gender identity diagnoses, such as transvestism, transsexualism, gender identity disorder and gender dysphoria. Drawing on discursive psychology, this book traces the historical development of psychiatric constructions of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ gender expression. It contextualizes the recent reconstruction of gender in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and its criteria for gender dysphoria. This latest diagnosis illustrates the continued disagreement and debate within the profession surrounding gender identity as ‘disordered’. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the conflicted history between feminist and transgender communities in the changing context of a more trans-positive feminism, and the implications of these diagnoses for these distinct but linked communities. Psychology and Gender Dysphoria examines debates and controversies surrounding psychiatric diagnoses and theories related to gender and gender nonconformity by exploring recent research, examples of collaborative perspectives, and existing feminist and trans texts. As such, the book is relevant for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers of gender, feminism, and critical psychology as well as historical issues within psychiatry.

Gender and sexual identity are immensely complicated topics. An expert on human sexuality, Mark Yarhouse offers a Christian perspective of transgender identity that eschews simplistic answers, engages the latest research and listens to people's stories. This accessible guide challenges Christians to rise above the politics and come alongside individuals navigating these issues.

NAMED A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE ECONOMIST AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2021 BY THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES "Irreversible Damage . . . has caused a storm. Abigail Shrier, a Wall Street Journal writer, does something simple yet devastating: she rigorously lays out the facts." —Janice Turner, The Times of London Until just a few years ago, gender dysphoria—severe discomfort in one’s biological sex—was vanishingly rare. It was typically found in less than .01 percent of the population, emerged in early childhood, and afflicted males almost exclusively. But today whole groups of female friends in colleges, high schools, and even middle schools across the country are coming out as “transgender.” These are girls who had never experienced any discomfort in their biological sex until they heard a coming-out story from a speaker at a school assembly or discovered the internet community of trans “influencers.” Unsuspecting parents are awakening to find their daughters in thrall to hip trans YouTube stars and “gender-affirming” educators and therapists who push life-changing interventions on young girls—including medically unnecessary double mastectomies and puberty blockers that can cause permanent infertility. Abigail Shrier, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, has dug deep into the trans epidemic, talking to the girls, their agonized parents, and the counselors and doctors who enable gender transitions, as well as to “detransitioners”—young women who bitterly regret what they have done to themselves. Coming out as transgender immediately boosts these girls’ social status, Shrier finds, but once they take the first steps of transition, it is not easy to walk back. She offers urgently needed advice about how parents can protect their daughters. A generation of girls is at risk. Abigail Shrier’s essential book will help you understand what the trans craze is and how you can inoculate your child against it—or how to retrieve her from this dangerous path.

In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of children and young people who diagnose themselves as gender dysphoric, or trans. In the UK, and worldwide, there is a growing tendency to refer them on to 'specialist' gender services almost as soon as they express any confusion or distress about their biological sex or gender identity. Due to the rapidly rising numbers and various pressures on the system, patients are increasingly likely to be offered life-altering medication and/or surgical treatments, often with little exploration of their emotional world. As so little is yet known or understood regarding this increase in gender incongruent patients, it seems precipitous to proceed onto physical treatments before any assessment work is undertaken. Many who present as gender dysphoric have complex needs with comorbid problems such as autism, histories of abuse or trauma, social phobias, depression, eating disorders, and other mental health symptoms. Therefore, all aspects of the individual's life deserve thorough assessment and therapeutic work. This book is aimed primarily at clinicians working in the field to provide a model for understanding, assessing, and treating gender dysphoria. The model uses a psychoanalytic framework to help explain disturbed states of mind and how psychic defences can be enlisted unconsciously to avoid overwhelming psychic pain. This offers professionals a way of trying to think with, and offer understanding to, their trans-identifying clients. Clinical examples are given to illustrate these processes and promote the understanding of transgender children, adolescents, and young people and their internal worlds, their thinking, and their interpersonal relationships. As well as clinical exploration and understanding, the book includes an overview of the current political, social, and clinical environments which have all impacted on the clinical care of trans-identifying individuals. As well as professional and trainee clinicians, this book might also prove useful to parents, other professionals, and possibly the gender dysphoric person too.

An exploration of the diverse presentations of gender dysphoria and how it affects an individual's physical, psychological, social, and sexual adjustment, Gender Dysphoria provides comprehensive and applicable treatment approaches available for a wide spectrum of presentations of this disorder. The need for evaluating and treating gender dysphoria in the context of the gender dysphoric client's overall mental and physical health is stressed. International experts in the clinical management of gender dysphoria contribute valuable information on contemporary approaches in assessment, psychological and medical treatment, and adjustment of individuals with gender identity disorders. In Gender Dysphoria, clinicians will find important information on hormone therapy options and their physical results and side effects, and the effectiveness of sex reassignment surgery in improving a gender dysphoric client's adjustment. This comprehensive book covers a wealth of topics essential for clinicians who treat gender dysphoria, including: terminology and classification of gender identity disorders a validation of the “Cross-Gender Questionnaire,” a newly developed clinical assessment tool reported regrets of post-surgical transsexuals the affective component of gender dysphoria in young boys a model for identifying and treating gender identity disorder in females a thorough description of a comprehensive treatment approach for a wide spectrum of presentations of gender dysphoria Filled with useful information on the clinical management of gender identity disorders, Gender Dysphoria meets the practical needs of clinical sexologists, psychotherapists, counselors, social workers, physicians, sex researchers, social scientists, and specialists who evaluate and treat gender dysphoria.

There is a significant increase in people who self-diagnose as having gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. The number of people with gender dysphoria and gender incongruence who seek assessment, support and treatment at gender identity clinic services has increased substantially over the years globally, and in Europe, North America and Australia in particular. Many countries lack appropriate transgender healthcare services. People with gender dysphoria and/or gender incongruence are often victimized and discriminated against. This book gives an overview regarding mental health and quality of life issues across the life span within the evolving interdisciplinary field of transgender healthcare. The book is written for professionals who in their day-to-day job may encounter people with gender dysphoria and gender incongruence; and for students, teachers, educators, academics, and members of the public at large with an interest in this timely topic. This book was originally published as a special issue of the International Review of Psychiatry.

This book provides a state of the art review on the care and treatment of and current scientific knowledge on gender dysphoria (GD) and disorders of sex development (DSD). The book elucidates the history, the present situation, and the newest developments and future perspectives in both research on GD and DSD and the clinical management of individuals with GD and DSD of all ages. With contributions from a selection of leading scientists and established clinicians in the field of GD and DSD, this is a unique and comprehensive book focusing on the etiology and developmental trajectories of GD and DSD regarding gender identity development, psychiatric comorbidity, classification dilemmas, ethical dilemmas in treatment, influences of societal stigmatization, and discussion of the medical and psychological implications and outcomes of treatment, and providing treatment guidelines for individuals with GD and DSD (distinct guidelines each for children, adolescents, and adults). By presenting not only an historic overview and the current state of the art, but also challenges for the future, the book aims to demonstrate the need for further research and to stimulate the development and improvement of the clinical care of individuals with GD and DSD.​

This book is especially focused on the surgical aspect on Gender Dysphoria. Male to female surgery is widely discussed as well as the female to male conversion. Full information on hormone administration and surgical procedures are provided. Mental health issues are also described, as well as ethics, the law and psychosocial issues. The text is extensively referenced and includes numerous photos, tables and figures to clearly illustrate information. Based on collaboration between international experts in transgender health, this book is an essential guide for health care professionals, educators, students, patients and patients’ families concerning the psychological, hormonal, surgical and social support of transgender individuals.

Although transgender persons have been present in various societies throughout human history, it is only during the last several years that they have become widely acknowledged in our society and their right to quality medical care has been established. In the United States, endocrinologists have been providing hormonal therapy for transgender individuals for decades; however, until recently, there has been only limited literature on this subject, and non-endocrine aspects of medical care for transgender individual have not been well addressed in the endocrine literature. The goal of this volume is not only to address the latest in hormonal therapy for transgender individuals (including pediatric and geriatric age groups), but also to familiarize the reader with other aspects of transgender care, including primary and surgical care, fertility preservation, and the management of HIV infection. In addition to medical issues, psychological, social, ethical and legal issues pertinent to transgender individuals add to the complexities of successful treatment of these patients. A final chapter includes extensive additional resources for both transgender patients and providers. Thus, an endocrinologist providing care to a transgender person will be able to use this single resource to address most of the patient’s needs. While Transgender Medicine is intended primarily for endocrinologists, this book will be also useful to primary care physicians, surgeons providing gender-confirming procedures, mental health professionals participating in the care of transgender persons, and medical residents and students.