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Gender identity disorder

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Transsexualism

Symptoms:

Children:

• Express the desire to be the opposite sex
• Have disgust with their own genitals
• Believe that they will grow up to become the opposite sex
• Are rejected by their peer group, feel isolated
• Have depression or anxiety

Adults:

• Desire to live as a person of the opposite sex
• Wish to be rid of their own genitals
• Dress in a way that is typical of the opposite sex
• Have depression or anxiety
• Feel isolated

Either adults or children:

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

Signs and tests:

A history and psychiatric evaluation confirms the persistent desire to be the opposite sex. The person's partner choices may be same-sex or opposite sex.

• Review Date: 5/17/2006
• Reviewed By: Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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