GENDER DISPHORIA: PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION PROTOCOL

Gender Identity issues have been known and studied since the 19th century. Transsexuality was first included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) III in 1980, and have been revised in the further versions. The prevalence of transsexuality and the women/men ratio is not to be found as a precise number. The numbers are various among different research studies. Though there are multiple perspectives on its etiology, a single approach will not suffice; rather a combination of biological, psychological and societal factors might be determining. Psychiatric assessment includes screening of other psychiatric diagnoses, and whether its related to gender dysphoria. The span of dysphoria and the societal conditions of the person are also taken into consideration. After a differential diagnosis, if the others are excluded and the person is diagnosed with gender dysphoria, gender affirming hormone therapy and surgery might be considered if there are no foreseen contraindications