Child and adolescent psychiatry is dealing with a growing number of cases in which those affected struggle with their gender. Experts refer to this as transidentity. The topic has received more attention in recent years, partly due to the debate surrounding the Self-Determination Act, said Dresden child and adolescent psychiatrist Veit Roessner to the German Press Agency. This has contributed to more young people - especially during puberty - dealing with questions about their own gender. "When the body and self-image change dramatically, many look for guidance - among friends and on social media."
Careful clarification and counseling urgently needed
However, not every gender-related discomfort leads to persistent, medically significant suffering that justifies a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, said the head of the clinic. In adolescence in particular, it is often difficult to reliably assess how stable such an experience and the psychological distress will remain over time, said Roessner. This makes careful clarification and advice all the more important in order to differentiate cases with significant psychological distress from other developmental and stress-related problems.
Operative interventions can have irreversible consequences
"With the growing number of people seeking help, the proportion of minors who want medical measures to align their body with their perceived gender is also increasing - such as puberty blockers or hormones, and in some cases also surgical interventions. Such measures can have far-reaching, sometimes irreversible consequences. At the same time, waiting can also mean risks and additional stress," said Roessner.
