Coping with Gender Dysphoria in a Rural Environment during Adolescence

Authors

  • Ana Luísa Ribeiro Medicina Geral e Familiar. Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Chaves. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9995-8072
  • Carlos Magalhães Vieira Medicina Geral e Familiar. Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Chaves. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0057-6694
  • Marta Pires Ribeiro Medicina Geral e Familiar. Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Chaves. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7194-4776
  • Justino Gonçalves Serviço de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência. Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Vila Real.
  • Paulo Ribeiro Psicologia Clínica. Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Vila Real.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.19731

Keywords:

Adolescent, Gender Dysphoria, Gender Identity, Rural Population

Abstract

Gender dysphoria is socially more visible and discussed today, but still underdiagnosed. It refers to distress and/or impaired function caused by inconsistency between the sex assigned at birth and gender identification. Clinical manifestations are variable. Lack of training and investment in gender issues make the diagnosis and management in primary care complex, particularly in conservative and isolated communities, with poor access to information and specialized health services. We describe the diagnosis of gender dysphoria and use of a patient centered multidisciplinary and family approach in a 12-year-old rural born adolescent, assigned female at birth. Our aim is to raise awareness of early symptoms and signs of gender dysphoria and problems faced by transgender people and their families during childhood, leading to gender dysphoria, and we hope our successful approach might improve healthcare provision for these patients, particularly in rural areas.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington DC; APA: 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Forcier M, Olson-Kennedy J. Gender development and clinical presentation of gender diversity in children and adolescents. [cited 2022 Oct 13]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/gender-development-and-clinical-presentation-of-gender-diversity-in-children-and-adolescents.

Malpas J. Between pink and blue: a multi-dimensional family approach to gender nonconforming children and their families. Fam Process. 2011;4:453-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2011.01371.x

National Health Service. Gender dysphoria. 2020. [cited 2022 Oct 13]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/.

Kaltiala-Heino R, Bergman H, Tyolajarvi M, Frisén L. Gender dysphoria in adolescence: current perspectives. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2018;9:31-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/AHMT.S135432

Olson J, Forbes C, Belzer M. Management of the transgender adolescent. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165:171-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.275

Fridell SR, Owen-Anderson A, Johnson LL, Bradley SJ, Zucker KJ. The playmate and play style preferences structured interview: a comparison of children with gender identity disorder and controls. Arch Sex Behav. 2006;35:729-37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9085-8

Wallien MS, Cohen-Kattenis PT. Psychosexual outcome of gender-dysphoric children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008;47:1413-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e31818956b9

Steensma TD, McGuire JK, Kreukels BP, Beekman AJ, Cohen-Kettenis PT. Factors associated with desistence and persistence of childhood gender dysphoria: a quantitative follow-up study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52:582-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.03.016

Prasad G, Aparna B. A case report of gender dysphoria with morbid jealousy in a natal female. Indian J Psychol Med. 2017;39:800-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.219643

Anderson H. Rural transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals’ experiences with social media during adolescence. Minneapolis; Walden University: 2019.

Downloads

Published

2024-01-22

How to Cite

1.
Ribeiro AL, Magalhães Vieira C, Pires Ribeiro M, Gonçalves J, Ribeiro P. Coping with Gender Dysphoria in a Rural Environment during Adolescence. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2024 Jan. 22 [cited 2024 Nov. 28];37(5):386-90. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/19731

Issue

Section

Case Report