Gender Dysphoria: Current Approach to Clinical Care and Research

Dear Colleagues,

Gender dysphoria can be described as a condition of discomfort and persistent suffering caused by feeling one's gender identity is different from one's biological sex. Subjects with gender dysphoria present a marked inconsistency between the gender attributed to them at the time of birth (generally, reference is made to phenotypic sex) and the gender they experience/express. Gender identity disorder causes discomfort toward one's own body, perceived as distant and alien. Although not all subjects may suffer from this inconsistency, the majority suffer from it because they are unable to implement the physical interventions required for hormonal and sometimes even surgical treatment.

Individuals with this condition have the opportunity to receive psychological support and medical assistance, in order to start a process that will lead to a change in their personal and/or anatomical sex. Among the various interventions, in order to modify their secondary sexual characteristics so that they align with their gender identity, hormone replacement therapy for trans people consists of taking hormones (feminizing such as estrogen or masculinizing such as testosterone). Scientific interest in better characterizing and assisting the hormonal transition process of trans people has recently increased, both from a psychological and general health point of view. The distress caused by gender dysphoria is typically described as a combination of anxiety, depression, irritability, self-harm, suicidal ideation (up to 60% of cases), eating disorders (mainly caused by the attempt to control the development of one's body and to limit the typical changes in a greater bodily "sexual characterization"), substance abuse and a pervasive sense of not feeling comfortable in one's own body. Some subjects present internalized transphobia (negative feelings toward their condition), often presenting poor acceptance, low self-esteem, feelings of inferiority and guilt, shame and identification with denigrating stereotypes. Individuals who have experienced harassment and violence may later experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, in many cases, long-term psychotherapeutic assistance is necessary. This condition is therefore of considerable interest because it involves many clinical areas, both in diagnosis and in hormonal, surgical, psychological and psychiatric treatment. This Special Issue aims to collate research articles and reviews regarding the clinical diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of gender dysphoria.

Prof. Dr. Michele Roccella
Dr. Stefano Radellini
Guest Editors

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• gender identity
• childhood
• gender dysphoria
• persistence
• psychosexual development
• treatment
• autism spectrum disorder
• co-morbidity
• co-occurrence
• gender identity disorder
• adolescents
• cross-hormone treatment
• rapid-onset gender dysphoria
• sex ratio
• suicidality