Does Gender Dysphoria in Young Children Persist?

Many children with gender dysphoria outgrow it.

Gender dysphoria refers to the feeling of unease between one’s gender identity and genetic sex. Children with gender identity disorder have persistent gender dysphoria and often express a desire to be the opposite sex, prefer cross-sex roles in fantasy play, and favor cross-sex toys and games.

To assess psychosexual outcomes of gender dysphoria in children, researchers identified 77 patients at age 16 years or older (76% male; mean age, 19 years) who had been referred to a gender identity clinic in the Netherlands between ages 5 and 12 years. Based on childhood assessment records, 75% of patients had met complete DSM-III-R criteria for GID; 25% met subthreshold criteria for the diagnosis.

At follow-up, 27% of patients (12 boys and 9 girls) re…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics