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2 days ago

Sherry Roberts 

Week 11 Main post Gender Dysphoria

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Week 11 Main post gender dysphoria

Gender Dysphoria.

Gender Dysphoria is described as psychological distress related to one’s biological gender assignment and one’s gender identity (APA, 2020). Transgender is in the category of gender dysphoria. The diagnostic criteria for gender dysphoria, accordinbg to the DSM-5, states: 

“A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, of at least 6 months’ duration, as manifested by at least two of the following:

A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or in young adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics).

A strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s experienced/expressed gender (or in young adolescents, a desire to prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex characteristics).

A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender.

A strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender).

A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender).

A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gende

The condition is associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning” (Lawrence A.A. 2014).

Psychotherapy and Psychopharmocolgy

Individual psychotherapy is one of the best therapy modalities for gender dysphoria. This therapy is meant to not change or cure a patient’s perceptions of their gender but to help them cope and accept with positive feelings about themselves (Wylie, K., Eden, K., & Watson, E. 2012). The psychological distress that results from these internal and external conflicts can lead to dysphoria, depression and a host of other conditions commonly experienced by transgender or gender nonconforming individuals. Antidepressants such as Zoloft would be an appropriate medication to prescribe (Borrow K. 2021). 

 

References

Barrow, K. (2021). Psychotherapy with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clients. Psychotherapy.net. Retrieved January 6, 2021, from

Lawrence, A. A. (2014). DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents and Adults. Psychiatry Online. Retrieved January 6, 2021, from  https://psychiatryonline-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.gg39

What Is Gender Dysphoria? (2020). APA. Retrieved January 6, 2021, from  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria

Wylie, K., Eden, K., & Watson, E. (2012). Gender dysphoria: treatment and outcomes. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 1(18), 12–16. Retrieved January 6, 2021, from  https://doi.org/doi:10.1192/apt.bp.110.008557

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