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Gender identity disorder - Symptom

Alternative Names

Transsexualism

Symptoms:

Symptoms can vary by age, and are affected by the person's social environment. They may include the following:

Children:

Are disgusted by their own genitals
Are rejected by their peers, feel alone
Believe that they will grow up to become the opposite sex
Have depression or anxiety
Say that they want to be the opposite sex

Adults:

Dress like the opposite sex
Feel alone
Have depression or anxiety
Want to live as a person of the opposite sex
Wish to be rid of their own genitals

Either adults or children:

Cross-dress, show habits typical of the opposite sex
Withdraw from social interaction

Signs and tests:

The feeling of being in the body of the "wrong" gender must last for at least 2 years for this diagnosis to be made. A history and psychiatric evaluation can confirm the person's constant desire to be the opposite sex. The person's partner choices may be same sex or opposite sex.

Male and female reproductive systems

Reviewed last on: 2/18/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Michelle Benger Merrill, MD, Instructor in Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Shafer LC. Sexual disorders and sexual dysfunction. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 36.

Peralta L. Gender identity disorder. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 13.2.

Möller B, Schreier H, Li A, Romer G. Gender identity disorder in children and adolescents. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2009;39:117-143.

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