What It Is
Gender Identity Disorder (GID), more recently called “gender dysphoria,” is a condition that causes significant distress for the individual, who consistently identifies with the gender opposite to their biological sex.
The person who presents gender dysphoria, in addition to identifying with the other sex and wanting to appear and behave as belonging to it, experiences strong discomfort in “wearing the clothes” of the gender to which they biologically belong.
Gender dysphoria is not linked to sexual orientation, which is indeed independent of the desire to transition from one gender to another.
The relationship between gender dysphoria and psychopathologies is also not clear, which, when co-present, can be positioned both as an etiological factor and as a consequence of a life situation that in many cultures can cause the individual to suffer due to the difficult acceptance of their condition by society.
Beyond the specific disorder of “gender dysphoria,” as described in the DSM V diagnostic manual, gender identity issues can take multiple forms. In fact, this type of issue includes, in reality, any situation in which the individual does not adhere to the gender role considered “normal” with respect to their biological sex.
The treatment of this type of issue, as well as the desired outcome, can be very different.
Not in all cases, in fact, does the person desire to reach surgical sex reassignment. To best respond to this variability, Gamos specialists propose the formulation of a personalized treatment, suitable for the specific situation and the person’s needs.
